Posted on By Julie Swartz Categories Current Projects

Creighton Skutt Student Center Renovation

Crieghton University students will soon see significant changes to the Skutt Student Center. Prairie Construction is busy completing a full renovation of the space.

Located at 2600 California Street, the project includes a complete upgrade of the existing student dining hall and commercial kitchens in the Skutt Student Center. New air handling units are being installed, and an expansion of adjacent restrooms to provide ADA access and increased size are also part of the project.

The project began during the summer and will continue through the first semester, with a goal of reopening for the second semester. Prairie Construction has coordinated with Creighton to keep nearby Starbucks and Mutual of Omaha ballroom open throughout the construction of the nearby space.

Prairie is partnering with architects from Leo A Daly on the 22,000 square foot project. We are excited to complete another successful project on the Creighton University campus.

Posted on By Julie Swartz Categories Current Projects

Pottawattamie County Roads Operations Center

The Prairie Construction team recently completed a project for the Pottawattamie County Roads Operations Center.

The project involved the construction of a vehicle maintenance building with office space, located at 101 Ingenium Way in Council Bluffs. As part of the Pottawattamie County Secondary Roads Department, the new building is located just north of the Council Bluffs Airport.

The maintenance building is 22,300 sq feet, and the office building is approximately 7,200 sq feet. We collaborated with HGM Associates Inc. from Council Bluffs on the design of the buildings.

The new maintenance building resulted in the consolidation of five existing spaces into three, more efficient and adequate spaces.

Read more about the project here.

Posted on By Julie Swartz Categories Uncategorized

Choosing the Right Commercial Contractor for You

When you’ve made the decision to undertake a commercial construction project, whether it is a renovation or a new build, the first step is to choose a contractor that is right for you.

Working with a reputable, local contractor that shares your goals and vision for the project will produce the best outcome. Here are a few suggestions to help you choose the right commercial contractor for you and your project.

  • Review their portfolio and services. Consider your project and choose a commercial contract that has proven experience in similar projects. For example, Prairie Construction has extensive experience in new school construction, making us a strong choice if your project is a new or renovated school.
  • Speak to references. You can learn so much about a prospective construction partner by speaking with references and past clients. Don’t be afraid to ask references about their experience with a contractor’s project, budget, and time management.
  • Prioritize quality over cost. The old advice “you get what you pay for” carries so much truth, even when it comes to commercial construction. Choosing a contractor based on their reputation, safety record, and commitment to quality service, and not because they have the lowest bid, will produce satisfaction and strong results.
  • Meet the Project team. You will spend a lot of time with your construction team, especially the project manager. It’s OK to ask to meet the team so you can ensure your vision and goals align.
  • Ask about their safety record. Safety is a priority on any construction project. Don’t be afraid to check the safety record before you choose a contractor.
  • Choose a local contractor. Working with a local contractor with a trusted reputation, and references you can speak to, will save you time and money because they will likely choose local subcontractors for the project.

If you are planning a new commercial build or renovation project, give the Prairie Construction team a call to see if we are right partner for you.

Posted on By Julie Swartz Categories Uncategorized

Congratulations Nebraska Chapter of the National Safety Council

It was an honor for the Prairie Construction team to partner with the Nebraska Chapter of the National Safety Council on the construction of a new office.

The new office, located at 3111 Oakview Drive in Omaha, is a much larger space to accommodate their growth and expansion of services.

The new office will allow for more hands on experiences and learning opportunities for the organization.

Congratulations – it was a pleasure to collaborate with you on this project!

Posted on By Julie Swartz Categories Company News, Current Projects

The Longest Day of the Year

The official start of summer is June 21 – it is also the longest day of the year!

Summer is busy for the Prairie Construction team – the days are the longer, the weather is cooperative, and it’s a great time for us to complete as many projects as we can!

Not only do we take advantage of the warm, dry weather, but we also take advantage of longer hours of daylight. And in some cases, we barely wait for the sun to rise before getting a start on the day.

That was the case recently when our team made the most of the day to pour concrete at the West Hampton Flex project at 192nd & Blondo. We used light towers to help our team make the most of day and get the concrete poured at this new construction build.

You can watch the progress here!

Posted on By Julie Swartz Categories Company News

News From Prairie Construction

The Prairie Construction team recently got away from the office for a training meeting with our leadership team.

 

Construction is a year-round industry, but in the Midwest, Spring and Summer are definitely our busiest times. Before we got too far into the season, we scheduled time for an off-site staff development to focus on strategic planning and gearing up for the busy second half of the year.

We are grateful for the opportunity to work ON our business, not IN our business, and we feel prepared and excited for the upcoming busy construction season!

Posted on By Julie Swartz Categories Uncategorized

Tom Schroeder Celebrates 30 Years!

Prairie Construction recently celebrated the 30th anniversary of Tom Schroeder, a General Superintendent.

Steve is a valued member of the Prairie Construction team and has played a key role on countless projects over the years.  He has managed jobs of all sizes all over town, and he is the best when it comes to completing jobs on deadline.

“Tom works hard every day to make sure each job is done well and on time ,” said Steve Rease. “He’s a great manager, and our crews, subcontractors, and clients all love working with him.”

His experience is invaluable, and his dedication to the team, commitment to quality work, and personality make him irreplaceable.

Thank you, Tom for 30 years of dedicated service to Prairie Construction!

 

Posted on By Julie Swartz Categories Uncategorized

Creighton’s Criss Health Sciences Building Project Complete

Prairie Construction is proud to work with numerous pillars of the Omaha community. Among those is Creighton University, whom we have been proud to partner with on several projects.

We recently wrapped up a renovation of the main corridor of the Criss Health Sciences Building on the Omaha campus.

The 30,000 square foot project included updates and remodels on four different floors of the building in the Schools of Pharmacy & Health Professions, Nursing, Medicine, Occupational Therapy & Physical Therapy, and Paramedicine (EMS) Education. Updates included new flooring, lighting, paint, and more throughout the corridors and 125 individual office spaces.

Working in a school environment, particularly a professional school within a university poses a unique challenge because there is no “down time” – school is always in session. Prairie Construction worked closely with Creighton University and the various departments to develop and implement a multi-phase strategy and schedule.

Our team worked in and around the occupied spaces, following a specific schedule, and managed to keep disruptions to a minimum and complete the project on time.

This was another successful project that we completed at Creighton University. It is always a pleasure to work on campus with the Creighton team.

Posted on By Julie Swartz Categories Company News

Jordan Bartels, Project Manager

Prairie Construction is proud to introduce Project Manager Jordan Bartels. Jordan is a graduate of the University of Nebraska College of Engineering with a Bachelor’s in Construction Engineering, and he joined the Prairie team in July 2022.

Prior to joining Prairie Construction, Jordan worked at a few local construction companies, gaining experience is estimating, scheduling, and project management. He developed an expertise in scheduling after training in various scheduling techniques.

“Planning and scheduling is vital in a project’s success, it is a great tool to communicate the successes and shortfalls of a project,” he said. “A schedule can indicate how a project is progressing. Without proper planning and scheduling a project cannot obtain its objectives in a timely and cost effective manner.”

We first met Jordan three years ago while working together at Creighton University on various projects. We recognized his skills as a scheduler, and his ability to coordinate between project managers and clients to keep project running efficiently and on time.  

“Jordan has been an excellent addition to the Prairie team,” said Matt Schuman. “He cares about our clients’ wants, needs, and project objectives, and he does everything he can to ensure our client’s goals are met, and they are pleased with the end product.”

Jordan was drawn to Prairie Construction because we are a smaller company that values a work-life balance while encouraging our employees’ growth.

“Working with Prairie at Creighton it was easy to tell that they take great pride in their work, and being experts in the field,” he said. “I also love their commitment to making our community better, I couldn’t be prouder working here and I hope I can add value to the Prairie Construction team!”

We think you have already added value to the Prairie team Jordan, and we are so happy you are part of our team!