Posted on By Julie Swartz Categories Current Projects

Update on Office Renovation at Prairie Construction

Things are looking a little different around the Prairie Construction office these days.

Demolition on our office renovation project is underway. In celebration of our upcoming 30th Anniversary, we are treating ourselves as the client and giving our office a much-needed update and renovation.

The project will include a complete update and renovation of our existing office space, an inviting entryway and redesigned meetings paces.

Demolition is complete and our teams are hard at work on the space that reflect our style and commitment to excellent craftsmanship, construction and design.

We look forward to showing you progress – and the finished project. In the meantime, we need to get back to work!

Posted on By Julie Swartz Categories Current Projects

New Papillion/LaVista Schools Project

Prairie Construction is thrilled to be chosen for the Papillion /LaVista high school addition and renovation project! We are excited to continue our partnership with Papillion/LaVista Schools.

The $21.7 million multi-phase project includes the renovation of the existing high school which will begin this month, and continue through August of 2022. The 69,360 square-foot addition will provide additional offices, classrooms, and lab space.

At Prairie Construction, we enjoy building schools. We understand the elements of design, security and efficiency required. You can read more about some of our recent school projects HERE.

As work on the Papillion/LaVista school project progresses, we will be sure to share updates with you!

Posted on By Julie Swartz Categories Company News

A Renovation of Our Own at Prairie Construction

The Prairie Construction team is excited to announce the launch one of our most exciting projects of the year – our own!

Prairie Construction was founded in 1989 and we are celebrating our 30th anniversary this year. What better way to mark the occasion than by treating ourselves as the client and launching a major office renovation!

Our offices are located near 133rd & B St. in southwest Omaha. Over the years, styles and trends have changed. We have helped design and build attractive, efficient spaces to meet our clients needs, and now it is time to do it for our own company!

The project will include a complete update and renovation of our existing office space. The front entryway will be modern and inviting. The offices and conference room space will be redesigned with collaboration and efficiency in mind, and will be a reflection of our style and craftsmanship. Our overall look and color scheme will be updated to reflect our progressive and innovative style.

This project gives us an opportunity to work with many of the partners we typically collaborate with on projects, but this time as the client. For example, Signworks of Omaha will create new exterior signage for the updated storefront.

Demolition has already begun and we expect the project to be completed at the end of January. We will share updates throughout the project to showing you the finished project soon!

Posted on By Julie Swartz Categories Current Projects

Insulated Concrete Forms on Display at New Papillion Elementary School

We broke ground on Asbury Hills Elementary School, the newest Papillion school district elementary school, at the end of the summer.

Asbury Hills Elementary will have a very similar floor plan to Prairie Queen Elementary School, which Prairie Construction also built for the Papillion school district. One big difference in the construction of the two schools however, is the addition of insulated concrete forms (ICF) that will be used to form the exterior walls of Asbury Hills Elementary.

Prairie Construction has been working closely with the Nebraska Concrete Aggregates Association to incorporate ICF into the construction of the school. While this trend is not brand new, few schools or buildings in Nebraska have adopted this construction practice.

On Nov. 1 the Nebraska Concrete and Aggregates Association and Iowa Ready Mixed Concrete Association will host an Open House and tour of the new school to showcase the insulated concrete forms. Architects, designers, contractors and school officials will have the opportunity to see the process up close, and learn about the energy efficient benefits of ICF.

The event will be held from 10 am to 2 pm on Friday, Nov. 1 at the site of the new school near Werner Park in Papillion. The event is free and lunch is included. The deadline to register is Friday, Oct. 25 and can be completed HERE.

The event will include a presentation at Werner Park, 12356 Ballpark Way in Papillion by Greg Lewis, NRMCA and Randy Daniels, Fox Blocks. A bus tour of the school site will follow lunch.

Insulated concrete forms are safer and more efficient energy than traditional framing, and the inclusion of ICF reduces construction time. Their sustainability and strength contribute to reduced annual utility costs which can save school districts millions of dollars throughout the life of the structure.

Prairie Construction is proud to be part of this ground-breaking project and we look forward to seeing you there!

Posted on By Julie Swartz Categories Company News, Industry News

Dedication of the Westside Welding Lab

Westside students have already been busy learning in the new welding lab, which was officially dedicated on Thursday, October 3, 2019.

Governor Pete Ricketts, a 1983 graduate of Westside High School was on hand to officially dedicate the lab.

We could not be more excited about Westside School District’s dedication to teaching trades and crafts to students, and we are extremely proud to be trusted with this important project. The lab is state-of-the-art and amazing!

Posted on By Julie Swartz Categories Current Projects

Elkhorn Stadium Project Completed

During the summer we shared news that we broke ground on a stadium project at Elkhorn High School.

The first football game was Friday, Aug. 30 so the deadline to complete the project was firm. We are happy to say the project was completed before the deadline, and the results have been well-received by Elkhorn fans as well as fans the opposing teams.

The project included a 4,400 square foot athletic team building includes training rooms, locker rooms, concessions and restrooms.  In addition, new bleachers were added to the east side of the Stadium which added 3,000 seats.

Prairie Construction was happy to help Elkhorn Public Schools show their team pride and we wish them luck this season!

 

Posted on By Julie Swartz Categories Company News

Happy Anniversary Cindy!

What is a DOA? It’s a Director of Awesomeness – and anyone who has called or visited our office knows it’s the perfect title for Cindy Wollenburg, our office administrator! We wouldn’t be who we are without her!

Cindy joined the Prairie Construction team in 2004 after a career in the grocery industry. As the front desk receptionist, she is the face and voice of Prairie Construction, greeting visitors, contractors and clients.

“There is very little that happens here that Cindy doesn’t have a hand in,” said Matt Schuman, owner of Prairie Construction.

Steve Rease, co-owner, summed up Cindy like this: “Cindy is the DOA! She makes sure we get things done and meet our deadlines, and you can’t help but like her!”

There is no typical day at Prairie Construction, but on any given day Cindy helps with accounting, insurance certificates, and contractor registrations. She balances invoices and supports contractors and subcontractors, and helps keep all the moving parts on schedule so we can complete our projects on deadline.

“I love being part of the Prairie Construction team,” said Cindy. “I appreciate the small, family atmosphere, and I really feel like I’m part of a great team here.”

Cindy is an important part of What Makes Us Work at Prairie Construction. We appreciate her every day. Congratulations on your 15th anniversary, Cindy, and THANK YOU for your loyalty and dedication to Prairie construction!

 

Posted on By Julie Swartz Categories Current Projects

Is That a Troll Under the Bridge?

No, you aren’t seeing things – there is a giant blue troll under the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge in downtown Omaha.

Local artist John Labja was commissioned by Visit Omaha, the Omaha Convention & Visitor’s Bureau to create the troll to inspire people to visit Omaha. His name is OMAR – short for Omaha Metro Area River troll. He is blue with orange hair and measures 4 feet tall.

Moving the 300-pound clay and bronze statue is no small feat, and that is where Prairie Construction got involved.

Prairie Construction was tasked with installing the troll to his “cottage” under the bridge. Omaha residents are encouraged to visit Omar and take your picture with him. You can learn more about Omar HERE.

Installing a 300-pound blue troll under a bridge isn’t a typical day at the office for us – but it was a fun project to be involved with!

Posted on By Julie Swartz Categories Current Projects

Ashbury Hills Elementary School Project

Prairie Construction was pleased to break ground on Ashbury Hills Elementary School in Papillion.

The 55,000 square foot school is located at 120th & Schram Rd. near Werner Park. The School will welcome students next Fall for the 2020/21 school year.

The elementary school will have a very similar floor plan as Prairie Queen Elementary, another Papillion Elementary school that Prairie Construction built.

While they may look the same, the construction of the two schools will differ in some ways. The outside walls of Ashbury Hills will be built with insulated concrete forms (ICF) for maximum energy efficiency. This is a new trend in school construction, and one that Prairie Construction is excited to implement in the Ashbury Hills project.

Building schools has become a passion of ours. Click HERE to see other school projects we have completed. We are looking forward to completing the Ashbury Hills project over the next year!

Posted on By Julie Swartz Categories Current Projects

Investors Realty

We recently completed an office relocation for Investor’s Realty, an Omaha-based real estate company. They had outgrown their previous space and relocated to the former Western Electric building at 125th & I St.

The building has served as an anchor for the Millard business community, serving as home to many companies over the years, including Western Electric, AT&T, Lucent and Kiewit. The 15,000 square-foot project provide space for continued growth for Investor’s Realty.

The new space utilizes an open concept to encourage collaboration. Cubicles, offices, meeting and huddle spaces, an employee lounge area and an inviting reception area were all created in a modern, colorful design.

The finished project is a bright beautiful space – and Prairie Construction was happy to collaborate with Investor’s Realty on this job!