Julie Swartz, Author at Prairie Construction

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!

October 22, 2018 Julie Swartz Current Projects

Creighton University Rigge Science Building Project

Creighton alum and former professor George Haddix and his wife gave a $10 million to Creighton University last month. The gift is earmarked academic programs, faculty development, laboratories, student opportunities and advising.

Haddix earned a master’s degree in math from Creighton and was a professor at the university from 1969-1971. He has donated to other schools he attended, including to STEM programs at UNO.

Prairie Construction was honored to be chosen for the first phase of this esteemed project. Immediately after the 2017/18 school year finished in May, we began demolition in the Rigge Science Building. This project kept us busy throughout the summer and we completed in August, right before the 2018/19 school year started.

The project included demolition of the first floor and a remodel of the corridor and four classrooms, as well as a remodel of labs on the second and fourth floors. The improvements will directly impact STEM programming for undergraduate and graduate students.

Prairie Construction was involved in other recent projects on Creighton University’s campus, including a multi-phase project in the Bio Information Center (BIC) for the occupational therapy study space and the addition of study carrels, and a renovation of the Old Gym. We value Creighton’s continued trust in Prairie Construction, and we look forward to partnering with them on additional projects in the future!

October 11, 2018 Julie Swartz Company News, Current Projects

On Track for Gretna Public Works Project – Despite the Rainfall

When it comes to meeting construction deadlines there are many contributing factors – sub contractors, budget, adjustments to the original plans, and weather – and the hardest to account for is weather.

Construction companies need to get creative in order to meet deadlines when we’ve had as much rainfall as we have the last few weeks in Omaha.

Several weeks ago we told you progress on the Gretna Public Works facility. By mid-August, the foundation and paving were being laid, and the steel erection had begun. Since then, we have laid the foundation, erected the building and completed the paving and retaining walls.

Rainfall and new concrete are a hard mix, but we have managed to take advantage of dry days – regardless of when they call – to keep the project on track to meet our deadlines. Our teams have been long hours on dry days, even when they fall on weekends.

We hope you will continue to check back on the progress of this project!

September 21, 2018 Julie Swartz Industry News

Commercial Renovation vs. Construction

Whether your business is just starting out or outgrowing your current space, the decision about the right office space can be hard. Should we renovate an existing space or build a brand-new site?

When it comes to choosing a new space for your business, there are many things to consider, not the least of which is budget. Renovating an existing space can often cost less than a new build, but there are several factors to consider:

Can you find an existing space to meet your needs? Consider how much space you need now and for potential growth in the future. Do you need cubicles or offices, or a shared conference space, etc.?
Consider long-term renovations and upkeep. An existing building may require more significant updates over time than a new building, and those expenses may outweigh the upfront savings. You could have a pest issue, for instance, and you might explore a few michigan exterminators (or in some other location) to hire one for pest control. Whereas, a newly constructed building can be treated while construction to avoid such issues in the future.
What is your timeframe? A rehabilitation will often take less time than new construction, especially if the previous structure needs to be demolished. For instance, it would probably take less time to complete a renovation or place a new roof on your new office with the help of commercial roofing companies in Denver or elsewhere than to create a brand-new structure. If you need to move in before the building is finished, think about when you need to be in the new workplace.
What are your design preferences? Starting from scratch with a new building gives you a blank slate to choose the design elements you want. This may be limited in a renovation.
Energy-saving options. Construction from the ground up allows you to choose some energy efficient elements that may not be an option with a renovation project, and those can save you money in the long run. However, before embarking on the journey of constructing a building, you would need to find a commercial builder who has a good reputation in building offices. Besides this, you would also need to hire the services of construction site security guards TX who can provide impeccable security to the site so that no one can interrupt the construction process.
Location, location, location! if location is a crucial factor for your business, available options may be the deciding factor in whether you decide to you build or renovate.

Prairie Construction is experienced in renovations and new builds of all sizes. We are committed to completing projects that meet our client’s needs on time and within budget. Whether you decide to renovate an existing space or build a new space, Prairie Construction can help create the perfect office space for your business!

August 16, 2018 Julie Swartz Current Projects

Gretna Public Works Facility Update

Earlier this year we were excited to learn that we were awarded the contract for the brand new Gretna Public Works facility.

We broke ground on the project located at 20090 Husker Drive, north of the water tower and fire station in Gretna and have been busy with the foundation, paving and steel erection at the facility.

The 38,000 square foot facility will allow the City of Gretna to consolidate all Public Works vehicles and equipment in one facility.

Here are some images of the progress – check back for more updates!

July 31, 2018 Julie Swartz Company News

Steve Rease Speaks to Omaha Executives Association

Steve Rease, executive vice president of Prairie Construction, spoke recently at an Omaha Executives Association (OEA) meeting. The presentation included a history of Prairie Construction, tips for choosing the right contractor, and highlights from some recent projects.

OEA was formed in Omaha in 1924 as a networking group for business owners and executives. Members exchange business information, networking and leads during weekly meetings. A current OEA members presents a craft talk – an informative presentation about their business – at each meeting.

Steve’s craft talk included an overview of Prairie Construction and the services we provide. Steve provided an overview of the process of hiring a contractor for a project, including the initial project design and the bid process, and finishing with the build!

He provided a brief over view of some recent projects that Prairie Construction completed, including the St. Patrick’s activity center, recent Creighton University projects, the Excel Physical Therapy expansion, the Lockbox Storage facility in Bennington, and some recent school projects. Steve highlighted unique features of each project and showed photos during construction and the finished build.

We have been fortunate to help several OEA members expand and grow their businesses through renovation or new construction projects. We enjoy the opportunity to talk about the things that make Prairie Construction different from other construction companies in Omaha. We hope you will think of Prairie Construction!

July 18, 2018 Julie Swartz Company News, Current Projects

Bennington Storage Facility

We recently completed the construction of a new storage facility in Bennington, NE for Lock Box Storage. The 60,000 square-foot climate-controlled building includes a variety of sizes of storage units inside, as well as outdoor storage space.

Self-storage is a rapidly growing industry in the US. According to The SpareFoot Storage Beat, there are more than 2.3 billion square feet of rentable self-storage space in the United States. That’s an average of 7.06 square feet of self-storage space for every American. The Prairie Construction team has been involved with the construction of numerous storage facilities for McGregor Interests in the Omaha and Des Moines areas, and we are proud of the quality construction of each of them.

Every project we complete has unique requirements and specifications. Climate control is crucial with storage units and the team at Prairie Construction has the experience and expertise to give you peace of mind that our facilities are safe and reliable. Learn more about the Bennington Lock Box storage facility here.