Posted on By Julie Swartz Categories Company News

Giving Back this Holiday Season

The pandemic of 2020 has brought changes for all of us, but for some the impact has been significant. Failed businesses, lost jobs and illnesses have had devastating effects on many people in our community.

In the spirit of giving back to the community, if you’re able, we encourage giving to those who have been significantly impacted by the pandemic and here’s a great opportunity.

The Food Bank for the Heartland is hosting a Food Drive this Saturday, December 5. The community is encouraged to donate non-perishable food items or monetary donations in a drive-through event at the Food Bank located at 10525 J St. in Omaha from 9 am to 12 pm. Click here to see the most-needed items.

Collecting non-perishable food is the purpose but monetary donations are always encouraged and appreciated as they can be stretched further. Donated funds made to The Food Bank for the Heartland are used to purchase food items that are most needed, including fruits, vegetables, and perishable items including dairy and meat products. Learn more about the drive-through Food Drive or other donation options to the Food Bank for the Heartland here.

Each year the need increases, and demand is always highest at the holidays. This year, the need is even greater as thousands of children are learning from home and missing school-provided meals.

If you’ve never given to The Food Bank for the Heartland before, now might be your time, a few dollars go can go a long way. Thank you.

 

Posted on By Julie Swartz Categories Company News

Prairie Construction Employee Appreciation

The Prairie Construction team a few weeks ago with an employee appreciation lunch where several employees were honored for their loyalty and dedication to Prairie Construction.

Among them was Steve Vencil, who celebrated 30 years with Prairie Construction!

Each of these dedicated employees have helped Prairie Construction achieve our goals, develop relationships, and truly made an impact on our company. We recognize how fortunate we are to have the opportunity to celebrate the longevity of employees who are dedicated to our company, and we hope they feel our true appreciation.

Thanks for your commitment to Prairie Construction!

 

Posted on By Julie Swartz Categories Uncategorized

Robert Sturm Welcome Center Dedicated at Westside High School

Prairie Construction attended a dedication of the Robert B. Sturm Welcome Center at Westside High School last week.

We broke ground on the construction of the new student entrance at Westside High School. The project included a glass-enclosed vestibule and reception area designed to streamline student entrance and provide added security features to the main entrance of the school.

The welcome center is named for Westside alum and well-respected philanthropist Robert Sturm, who was a major donor for the project.

The space, which was officially dedicated last week, has already welcomed hundreds of Westside students since the 2020/21 school year began in August.

 

Posted on By Julie Swartz Categories Company News

Putting the Finishing Touches on our Office Remodel

We are excited to share an update on the remodel of the Prairie Construction offices. We are almost finished!

At the beginning of the year, we turned the tables on ourselves and became our own clients. We worked with many of our trusted partners to design an updated, efficient space for our team. We could not be happier with the results!

We would like to specifically thank some of our trusted partners who helped with our remodel project:

  • Avant Architects – Sara Jansen was instrumental is this project from start to finish. She understood what we wanted, and her vision and determination were invaluable on this project. Hannah Wignall, an interior designer, helped us choose colors, finishes, and furniture for the office, and she was extremely helpful. We look forward to working with Sara and Hannah and the Avant team on future (and current!) projects.
  • Quality Glass – The glass features have taken this remodel up a notch and the results are more than we could have imagined. Kevin Kuta and his team were easy to work with and we love the open, modern feel that the glass walls provide.
  • Universal Flooring – Flooring throughout the office was updated in the project, and we are thrilled with the clean, modern feel. We want to give a special thanks to Tim Flynn for all his help!
  • Signworks Inc. – Gaby Ryan and her team designed the interior sign in the lobby – and it has exceeded our expectations! The brushed medal sign is a focal piece and we are proud of how it represents our business!
  • Renze – Stephanie Magers and the Renze team designed and created a wall feature that you have to see to believe! The vinyl outline of the state of Nebraska and each county spans two entire walls in the lobby and makes a strong statement about our commitment to our roots and our community.
  • Block Electrical – we have worked with Steve Block and the Block team on numerous projects, and enjoyed working with them on our own remodel. The lighting in our newly remodeled conference makes a bold statement – and we love it!
  • Fred’s Heating & Air – An often overlooked, but crucially important, component of any remodel or construction build is the HVAC. Scott Williams and the Fred’s team were great partners to work with!

And we can’t say enough about the resiliency of our own Prairie team, particularly Jen and Cindy who worked through the dust and noise and distractions that come with a project like this, and they never missed a beat. They kept things business-as-usual and we are so grateful for their commitment to our team.

We are putting the final finishing touches on the project, and we can’t wait to invite you to the office to see it when the project is complete.

Posted on By Julie Swartz Categories Company News, Industry News

Spring is Coming – Time to Plan Your Projects!

The groundhog did not see his shadow – that means an early Spring!

We’ve had a mild Winter, especially compared to last year when we had record snow amounts, and it felt like it would never end! But we have already experienced mild temps, making us think that Spring is just around the corner.

If you are considering a construction project for this Spring or Summer, don’t put off planning – Spring will in fact be here before you know it! Everyone wants to take advantage of nicer weather and plan projects for the Spring and Summer, and schedules fill up quickly – so don’t put off planning your projects!

The Prairie Construction team has some tips to consider when choosing the right construction company, no matter how big or small your project is:

  • Choose a company that has experience with projects similar to yours
  • Make sure the company is reliable and has a good rating with the Better Business Bureau
  • Referrals matter, so ask trusted sources for recommendations
  • Work with a company that has a good understanding of architectural design
  • A good construction company will manage the project from start to finish, eliminating the need for you to find subcontractors
  • Trust your gut – you should feel good about the project manager you are working with!

The Prairie Construction is looking forward to the end of Winter and a busy construction season!

Posted on By Julie Swartz Categories Company News

Progress on Our Office Renovation

Last week we showed you an update of our office renovation project – the demolition!

This week, we have another update – the progress!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Drywall is going up, lighting is being installed, and soon glass walls and fixtures will be put into place, followed by paint and the finishing touches!

We have learned a lot being on this end of a renovation project – and we have a whole new appreciation for our clients as you attempt to maintain operations throughout a construction project!

As many of our clients do, we made the decision to continue working in our office throughout the renovation. Construction projects are messy and loud and disruptive, and our staff has displayed amazing patience and dedication throughout the project. We appreciate their commitment to maintaining operations throughout this process.

We can’t wait to show you the finished project in a few weeks!

 

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

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!

Posted on By Julie Swartz Categories 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.

Posted on By Julie Swartz Categories 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 183rd & Ida St. and will accommodate the growing population of students in the Elkhorn area. Elkhorn Public Schools has quickly grown to the 5th 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.