Julie Swartz, Author at Prairie Construction

July 10, 2019 Julie Swartz Current Projects

Westside High School Welding Program Expansion

Prairie Construction is involved with a renovation project at Westside High School that will expand the existing welding lab. The Welding Program at Westside High School was established in 1955 and is one of the most distinguished programs in the state. The project was recently featured in an article in the Omaha World Herald.

The lab expansion project is part of the Engineering, Manufacturing and Fabrication Expansion at Westside High School. Construction on the project began in early October with the demolition of the old lab on the west side of the building.

The project, which has been made possible through the support of generous supporters, will double the existing lab space from 1200 square feet to 2450 square feet. In addition to welding, the lab will serve as a space for robotics, engineering and architecture classes and programs.

The expansion will accommodate the growing interest in the welding program. The district is committed to incorporating STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) programs into the high school curriculum resulting in a surge of interest in the curriculum and courses. Each year, more than 200 students are enrolled in the program.

The expansion in lab space will allow for the program to accommodate an updated technology known as TIG (Gus Tungsten Arc Welding) which incorporates mills and sheet metal work. The larger space will include smaller welding labs for more efficient instructional time.

The project is funded through the Westside Foundation. You can learn more about the Westside High School Welding Program and how to support the Engineering, Manufacturing and Fabrication Project HERE.

June 27, 2019 Julie Swartz Current Projects

Elkhorn High School Stadium Project

School is out for summer, but that doesn’t mean things are quiet on the Elkhorn High School campus. Prairie Construction broke ground on a stadium expansion project at the high school located at 1401 Veteran Drive in Elkhorn, NE.

The 4,400 square-foot athletic team building will include training rooms, locker rooms, restrooms and concessions. The team building will be an upgrade to the current facilities, and the home and visiting teams will appreciate the new accommodations before, during and after games. Brand new locker rooms and a training facility will be popular with the Antlers, and the visiting teams!

Fans and visitors to the stadium will enjoy the updated restrooms and concessions area, as well the addition of grandstands on the east side of the football field. And everyone visiting the stadium will appreciate the expanded parking area, which is included in the project.

The project is underway – but there is a strict deadline. Football season will be here before you know it – and we are looking forward to an Antlers winning season!

June 19, 2019 Julie Swartz Current Projects

Expansion Project at Blue Sage Elementary

It doesn’t seem that long ago that we were busy building Blue Sage Elementary, a brand-new elementary school in the Elkhorn Public Schools District. It actually wasn’t that long ago – we completed construction on the 11th elementary school in the Elkhorn district in time to welcome students for the 2018/19 school year. We have already returned to the school for an expansion project.

This summer, we are back at Blue Sage Elementary School for an expansion project that will house an early education department for the school. The 8,400 square-foot addition will be the home of the preschool program for the school and will include two classrooms, flex rooms, restrooms and office space. The project will be completed in March 2020, and a new class of students will fill the rooms in the fall of 2020.

The expansion project is in response to the population boom in the Elkhorn community, one of the fastest growing communities in Omaha. At Prairie Construction, we love building schools – and we have built a lot of them! We are excited about the opportunity to return to one of our school buildings and contribute to its growth and expansion.

May 21, 2019 Julie Swartz Current Projects

Construction to Begin on Elkhorn Middle School

Prairie Construction is excited to begin construction on the new Elkhorn Middle School #5 project!

Construction on the $29 million-dollar project will begin this summer and the school will be open for students in the Fall of 2021.

The new middle school will be located near 183^rd & Ida St. and will accommodate the growing population of students in the Elkhorn area. Elkhorn Public Schools has quickly grown to the 5^th largest district in the state.

The Prairie Construction team is looking forward to working with the Elkhorn Public School District and the architects at Jackson and Jackson Associates on this project.

April 23, 2019 Julie Swartz Current Projects

Madison Campus Project in Council Bluffs

One of our current projects is a example of thinking outside the box – or in this case, the box store.

Much-needed updates and improvements were approved for both Kirn and Wilson Middle Schools in Council Bluffs, and the school district needed a solution to house students during the renovations.

While it doesn’t resemble a traditional school, it turns out the empty Target store at the Mall of the Bluffs was a good solution. Prairie Construction has been renovating the former Target store to provide temporary education space for the middle schools.

The space is referred to as the Madison Campus and includes 49 classrooms, dining area, media room, multi-purpose spaces, music and art rooms, restrooms, office spaces and emergency exits.

The Madison Campus project is scheduled to be completed in time for the 2019/20 school year when students from Kirn Middle School will move in while their building is renovated. Wilson Middle School students will occupy the building during the 2020/21 school year. Once completed, the space will look like a school, not a retail space.

You can learn more about the project here – and visit our website this summer for photos of the completed project!

March 28, 2019 Julie Swartz Current Projects

Facilities Management Project at Creighton University

We know a lot goes into deciding on the right contractor for a project, and every time we start a new project, we consider the trust the client has put in our team.

That was especially true as we made plans to start the new Facilities Management Office for the facilities crew at Creighton. We have done several projects on the Creighton campus, and we felt especially honored to be trusted to complete a project for this campus team.

We knew from the beginning that this project had many tight deadlines, but in our experience with previous Creighton projects (LINK), we have found great partners on every project. This project was no exception. Communication was great, everyone was easy to work with and we appreciated the team approach from everyone involved with the project.

The new Facilities Management Office had been housed in the Jelinek building located near 18^th St. and Burt St. Plans for the project include office space and equipment, completed through involved four phases, the third of which we just completed at the end of February. The new facility is located at 20^th & Izard St. in the former 3E and is part of the northward expansion that Creighton has been undergoing in recent years.

The fourth and final phase is underway and should be completed in the coming weeks. It involves finish carpentry and welding, and the completion of the building and grounds. The new facility is approximately 34,000 square feet.

Prairie Construction takes a great deal of pride to be trusted again for a project on the Creighton University campus. We would like to congratulate the facilities crew on your new space – we are proud to take a role in the university’s continued growth and expansion, and we look forward to more projects on the campus!

February 5, 2019 Julie Swartz Current Projects

Skutt Catholic High School Project Dedicated

In May 2018 we told you about a project that Prairie Construction was starting at Skutt Catholic High School.

As the 2017/18 school year wrapped up, we started a 3500 square foot project that included a secure main school entrance and vestibule, an expanded lobby area, and additional office space.

The students, faculty and staff of Skutt Catholic High School enjoyed the new space for the first semester of the 2018/19, and the Ken and Beverley Pohlman Welcoming Lobby, was officially dedicated on February 4, 2019.

Prairie Construction was honored to be part of this special project.

January 23, 2019 Julie Swartz Industry News

Commit to Your Construction Project in 2019

January is typically the time of year when people commit to getting organized – clearing the house of unnecessary items, organizing files and offices, and creating a budget for the year ahead.

The team at Prairie Construction thinks this is a great time to plan for that construction or remodel project you have been considering. A construction project of any size for business or property owners is a big decision. And the decision to commit is often the biggest hurdle.

Once you commit to the project, experts and professionals will help you through every step of the project. Here’s a look at what you can expect:

Initiation: You have decided you are ready for the project, and now it is time to get started. Choose a designer and contractor, get the budget squared away, and commit to a start date. Now the fun begins!
Planning: Work closely with your contractors and designers to nail down the plans, secure necessary permits and logistics.
Execution: Once the project is underway, while some monitoring and decision-making may be necessary, you can leave the heavy lifting to the professionals.
Closure: This is the point when you get to enjoy the final project – whether it be a new home, a remodel project or new office or work space!

Make 2019 the year you commit to that project. Don’t wait until your office is overcrowded. Do it now so you can enjoy it. And of course, the experts at Prairie Construction are here to help!

December 18, 2018 Julie Swartz Company News

Holiday Greetings from the Prairie Construction Team

As 2018 comes to an end, the Prairie Construction team is taking time to pause and reflect on the successes of the last year.

We appreciate the many subcontractors and partners that we are fortunate to work with every day. We value your continued support of Prairie Construction and your commitment to helping us provide excellent service to each of our clients.

We are grateful for the opportunity to serve each of our clients. Thank you for your referrals and your trust in our team. It is our pleasure to serve you and help you make your construction dreams a reality.

We owe a huge part of our success to our team of dedicated professionals. We are grateful for each member of our team and we appreciate your dedication and loyalty. Thank you for your commitment to providing excellent service to our customers.

We wish you warmth and joy in this Holiday season, and health, happiness and prosperity in the New Year. Happy Holidays from all of us at Prairie Construction!

November 20, 2018 Julie Swartz Current Projects

Omaha Fire Station #43

Last summer, a fire started at station #43 of the Omaha Fire Department. It may seem ironic, but it goes to show that anyone is susceptible to an accidental fire – even firefighters. The fire started in the kitchen while most of the fire crew was out on an emergency, and it caused significant damage to the kitchen and living quarters of the station. Because of work we have done on previous projects, the City of Omaha contacted Prairie Construction for the immediate need of gutting the electrical system to make the station safe.

After ensuring the structure was safe, we began phase 1 of the remodel of station #43. This involved constructing temporary sleeping quarters in the apparatus bay so normal operations could resume from the station. The firefighters were fortunate to find temporary housing at the Omaha Police Department locate right behind the fire station during this phase of the project.

Phase 2, which is expected to be completed in early spring, involves a remodel of the living quarters. The original design of the station included open air sleeping quarters, and individual sleeping quarters will be incorporated into the remodel, as well as updated living and kitchen area.

We appreciate the opportunity to give back to the Omaha Fire Department and the firefighters who help our community every day. Check back for an update when this project is completed!