Posted on By Julie Swartz Categories Current Projects

Renovation Underway at Skutt Catholic High School

The 2017/18 school year just ended at Skutt Catholic High School and we could not be more excited! Students took their last final on Thursday, May 24 and Prairie Construction began work on a new addition to the school right away!

The focus of the 3500 square foot addition to the southwest corner of the building will be a secure main entrance to the high school, providing additional safety for the students and faculty. The project will also include an enlarged main lobby, secure vestibule and additional office space.

The addition was designed with safety in mind and goes beyond secure doors. The design for the single-story entrance calls for structural steel, brick, EIFS and composite metal panels, as well as aluminum curtain walls for the windows. The result will be a modern attractive front entrance that will provide security for the school.

We are probably just as excited that the students are out of school for summer – we were anxious to get started! Watch for progress throughout the summer. We expect to have the project completed in September, 2018!

Posted on By Julie Swartz Categories Company News

Why Choose Prairie Construction

We know there are many choices when it comes to selecting a construction company. Whether it is small remodeling project, a fleet vehicle facility, or a school, you can trust that Prairie Construction will deliver quality work.

When choosing the right construction company for your project, there are many things to consider beyond budget. Here are a few reasons why Prairie Construction might be the right choice for your construction project:

  • Prairie Construction is a trusted local company, based in Omaha since 1989.
  • Our goal is to meet the client’s needs and that is best accomplished through open communication. We will work closely with you throughout the project to problem-solve and complete the project on deadline and within budget.
  • Everyone on the Prairie Construction team – from the foreman to the subcontractors – is committed to creating a safe, friendly environment and providing excellent quality service to each of our clients.
  • No project is too big or too small for Prairie Construction. Our team can help with anything from small remodel jobs to large new construction projects.
  • Our clients are our top priority. We consider each project to be a team effort so every Prairie Construction job site is safe and clean, and every client is treated with respect.

If you would like to learn more about Prairie Construction, or speak to one of our client references, please contact us today!

Posted on By Julie Swartz Categories Current Projects

Update on Creighton University Project

April is Occupational Therapy Month, so we thought this was a good time to share an update on our Creighton University project which includes a new space for the Occupational Therapy department.

We are currently wrapping up phase two of the multi-phase project that we told you about earlier. The renovation of the Bio Information Center (BIC) includes new study spaces and a new cafeteria, as well as the renovation of the former cafeteria into new classrooms and labs for the Occupational Therapy department.

The Creighton Occupational Therapy Department will move into their brand-new space at the end of this week, and immediately resume classroom instruction and patient care in the lab space next week.  The renovated instructional and clinical spaces will reflect the reputation for excellence in education that Creighton is known for and will allow for further growth and expansion of the occupational therapy department.

Occupational therapists play an important role in helping patients perform everyday functions they want and need to do through therapeutic activities. Prairie Construction is happy to play a role in the growth of Creighton University’s Occupational Therapy department. Happy Occupational Therapy Month to the faculty, students and professionals at Creighton University!

Posted on By Julie Swartz Categories Current Projects

Prairie Construction Busy With Jobs of All Sizes

We have several projects that are keeping us busy now that Spring weather has finally made its way into our area. One of those projects is an office expansion at Stillwater Insurance, located in the Omaha Business Park at 125th & I St.

The project involves an expansion of the existing office space to accommodate growth that the company has been experiencing. The job involves demolition and renovation of existing office to create a more efficient space. We are on track to complete this job before the end of May.

At Prairie Construction, we are capable of completing jobs of all sizes. We enjoy larger projects such as schools and fleet vehicle storage facilities. But that doesn’t mean we don’t also enjoy smaller scale projects, like the Stillwater Insurance expansion.

Our team can simultaneously manage projects of all sizes efficiently, and no job is too big or too small for Prairie Construction.

Posted on By Julie Swartz Categories Current Projects

Pottawattamie County Courthouse Renovation

Several offices in the Pottawattamie County Courthouse are moving into a temporary home this week to make way for a renovation that we are anxious to start! Prairie Construction was awarded the contract for the renovation of the second floor of the courthouse.

The offices, including the Auditor’s, Assessor’s and Recorder’s offices, as well as the Supervisor’s, plan to be in their temporary home in various locations near the courthouse (Public Map), before construction begins in early April.

The 15,000 square foot renovation project includes a complete mechanical and electrical upgrade on the second floor. The plans include renovating the existing offices and corridors which will result in an updated and more efficient space. The projected completion date is August 1, 2018.

You can learn more about the Pottawattamie County Courthouse renovation here, and be sure to check back here for updates throughout the project.

 

Posted on By Julie Swartz Categories Company News, Current Projects

What Our Clients Are Saying

We have shared some details about the Better Homes & Gardens office we completed in Papillion. We were excited to be part of this rapidly growing real estate company in the Omaha metro area!

Tom and Jennifer Simmons of Better Homes & Gardens have been keeping busy in the Sarpy County office since it opened, but we recently caught up with Jennifer and she shared her thoughts about working with Prairie Construction on the construction of their office:

“Steve and his team at Prairie Construction were wonderful to work with. Steve was always responsive, no matter what time of day it is, and we really appreciated that. He and his team, particularly Ken, the project supervisor, were professional and easy to work with throughout the project.
From start to finish, the Prairie Construction team finished our Sarpy County office in 10 weeks. We were amazed! Tom was particularly pleased that the project finished not only on time, but on budget as well.
The Prairie Construction team is top-rate. We were referred to them from a professional contact and we could not have been more pleased with the entire process and the finished project. We would recommend Prairie Construction to anyone looking for a quality construction company in the Omaha metro area.”

Posted on By Julie Swartz Categories Current Projects

City of Gretna Public Works Facility

We are so excited for Spring weather, and to get started on some brand-new projects! One of those is the new Public Works Facility for the City of Gretna!

Construction on the 38,000 square-foot building will begin next month and we expect to complete the facility in April 2019. The building will sit on 8 acres of land located at 20090 Husker Drive, north of the Gretna water tower and fire station.

The building will allow for consolidation of the Public Works vehicles, equipment and materials in one facility. Vehicle storage and a wash bay, are included in the drive-through design, as well as material storage and office space, training rooms and a breakroom. The building design includes the ability to expand in the future.

We are excited to contribute to the continued growth and expansion in the Gretna community! Check back for more updates on this – and many other projects we are busy with – in the coming weeks!

Posted on By Julie Swartz Categories Current Projects

Multi-Phase Project Underway on Creighton University Campus

If you have driven near the Creighton University campus recently, you’ve probably noticed some changes! The former hospital and medical center is being transformed into retail space and apartments. Construction of a brand-new building for the dental school is nearly complete on the east side of campus. Several academic buildings on campus have undergone facelifts and remodels.

The Bio-Information Center (BIC) Center on the campus of Creighton University, which was originally occupied in May 1977, is also undergoing some significant changes. As the university continues to expand its programs and course offerings, existing spaces are being repurposed to accommodate the growth. The space continues to be needed for student use throughout the school year, so Prairie Construction has developed a plan to carry out a multi-phase remodel project in order to eliminate disruptions.

We completed the initial phase of the project – the creation of a new study space to replace the current study space – in early January before the start of the second semester. Several study carrels with glass doors and desks were created and are receiving high praise from students who have already put them to good use.

The BIC currently houses the Health Sciences Library. A portion of the former library was renovated into a new cafeteria space. Students moved into the cafeteria, Sara’s Place as it is referred, in early February.  Prairie Construction recently began the renovation of the former cafeteria space into classroom and lab space for the Occupational Therapy program. The existing study space will be demolished.

We will continue to share progress of this exciting project at Creighton University!

Posted on By Julie Swartz Categories Current Projects

Vermeer High Plains Expansion Project

Vermeer High Plains has been selling heavy equipment in Nebraska since 1979 when Vermeer Equipment of Nebraska Inc. was established in Lincoln, NE. The company recently recognized the opportunity to further expand by moving into the Omaha area, and Prairie Construction was honored to be chosen for the project.

The company sells new and used heavy equipment – everything from agricultural machinery to utility installation, pipeline, recycling and tree care machinery, as well as a variety of vehicles. The addition of a second location in Nebraska signals not only the success of the company, but their commitment to further growth in the region as well. A site in Papillion, NE was chosen for the brand new 17,000 square-foot facility, and we broke ground on the project in November, 2017.

Designs for the new building include drive-thru bays, and bases for maintenance and service of vehicles and machinery of various sizes, as well as an equipment washing bay. Three bridge cranes will be housed within the facility and utilized for safe, easy access to large equipment.

“We have been so pleased with Prairie Construction,” said Kevin Klein, president of Vermeer High Plains. “They run their business the way we run ours, they have been organized and professional from the first time we met with them.”

The new facility will include a two-story office space with upper-level training rooms. The training space will accommodate groups as large as 40 which will allow customers to come to the facility.

We recently installed the steel structure for the facility, and we can see the design starting to take shape. We look forward to sharing the progress of this exciting project with you until the anticipated completion date in July 2018.

“We have been so impressed with Steve and his team throughout the process,” said Kleine. “We would recommend their entire team, including the sub-contractors, to anyone looking for a quality construction company.”

Check back for updates here, and learn more about Vermeer High Plains by visiting their website.

Posted on By Julie Swartz Categories Company News

Mike Mann Celebrate Ten Years With Prairie Construction

This month we recognized Mike Mann as he celebrates his 10th anniversary with Prairie Construction. Mike joined our team in 2008 as a general laborer and is now one of our interior finishers.

Mike is a skilled worker who came to Prairie Construction with close to ten years of experience as a drywall finisher. “When the housing market started to shift, I was looking for something new to try, and I landed at Prairie Construction,” said Mann. “Every day is something new, anything from pouring concrete, to roof blocking, to interior work – I love the variety day-to-day.”

Mike was recently honored for his anniversary at an employee meeting. “It can be difficult to find a loyal and dedicated employee like Mike,” said Steve Rease, co-owner of Prairie Construction. “He is dependable, and we know when he shows up, he is going to work hard, and bring quality work to every project.”

Mike has been a key team member involved with recent school projects we have completed. “The best thing about a school project is that when we show up, it’s just a pile of dirt, but when we walk away, kids are going to school there,” he said. “There is a real sense of accomplishment and I feel proud when I drive by a school that was built by Prairie Construction.”

Mike enjoys spending time with his wife Donna and his daughter Sydney. He loves his job, and spends his free time fixing things at home, or helping friends with home projects. He is a valuable member of the Prairie Construction team – congratulations on your 10th anniversary Mike!