Commercial Construction in Omaha, Nebraska

As we’ve reached the third month of 2016, it is easy to reflect on the past year and identify the bigger changes in the commercial landscape that took place both locally and nationally. As civilians, we generally notice changes after they happen; sometimes we don’t even notice them until an extended period of time after they actually happen. But what about the people who make the changes in our commercial landscape that affect our everyday lives?

A lot of aspects go into commercial construction, from developing a project plan to picking out materials, and then the final delivery of the actual project. Without commercial construction, the world around us would certainly not be the same as it is currently, so it is very crucial that the local experts in Omaha’s commercial construction industry who work vigilantly and efficiently day in and day out carry out these projects and undertakings. There is definitely no absence of skills when it comes to commercial construction in the Omaha Metro, just take a look outside of your door; the sky-high buildings that tower downtown, the historic Old Market, the Bob Kerrey Bridge overlooking the great Missouri River, it is easy to see how one would appreciate the sights around them in Omaha along with benefitting from their distinct functions.

Reputation

In commercial construction, it is important to maintain a positive reputation. When hearing reference towards a good reputation in the commercial construction industry, one commonly hears things like “reasonably priced”, “quick timelines”, or “exceeding expectations.” The better your reputation, the more satisfactory buzz your company will create. By delivering just what the client wants and doing it in a time-efficient manner, creating a satisfactory environment for the client, there is no question whether or not both the client and the company themselves will be pleased with the result.

When referencing working vigilantly and efficiently in the workplace, Modern Concepts Tile definitely does just that and more. With the standing of working until perfection, their delivery of work is no exception to that. “You get what you pay for,” emphasizes Danny Reynolds of Modern Concepts Tile. “We do one-on-one meetings with customers which saves both parties a lot of time in the long run. This includes assistance with picking out colors and tile, which makes the job easier for us and them.”

With over 17 years of experience, one could say Modern Concepts Tile knows a lot about “time-savers” within the tiling process. They urge clients to take them up on the consultation because it benefits everyone in the process by saving time.

Commercially carrying out a lot of restaurants and building bathrooms, Danny elaborates that commercial tile work is getting more and more extravagant. “We are seeing trends of glass liner in walls, wood square tiling on walls, and Tiki wood wall-circling. As a whole, in the industry, we see a lot of businesses going for the 12 x 24 sized tiles right now. They just look better and classy and are really clean-cut. We usually advise clients to go for a cleaner look that does not go out of style, which a majority of the time for commercial spaces contains neutral coloring and clean lines. To carry out projects, we take our time installing and make sure the job is done perfectly.”

Having the motto “don’t worry about it, we’ll take care of it”, it is no wonder Complete Comfort has such has such a positive impact on the Omaha commercial construction market. Accommodating, commercially, to the construction needs of many, Complete Comfort makes it a point to over-deliver when installing air conditioning, heating and the geothermal needs of businesses.

With inventive solutions to fit each client’s specific needs for their unique space, Complete Comfort goes above and beyond service-wise. When considering your next geothermal project, Complete Comfort is definitely a source of knowledge. Making it known how efficient and great for the environment geothermal heat pump energy is, they are certified in System Adjustment and Verified Efficiency (SAVE), which guarantees that the heating and cooling professional who is installing or working to maintain your heating, ventilation, and cooling (HVAC) system is trained properly in the installation and measurement of energy efficient items. Being “SAVE” certified is such a time-saver and good long-term accommodation.

They have also made it known that they serve the Bryant tradition of “going beyond providing outstanding heating and cooling systems.” Carrying products from Bryant Plants, which are some of the biggest heating and cooling production facilities in the world that work towards incorporating advanced technology to keep the highest standards possible in design, the heating and cooling equipment installed by Complete Comfort has been production and quality tested. These types of equipment include: gas and oil furnaces, fan coils, boilers, heat pumps, air conditioners, packaged products, humidifiers, ventilators, and other air quality accessories, to name a few of the most popularly requested.

Having been in business since 1998, they continue to abide by their original mission of treating customers right, knowing they will spread the word to others and keep coming back. Together, Complete Comfort wants their clients to get the most out of what they spend whether it is on their replacement or repair service.

Innovation

When the thought of trends comes to mind, construction would not necessarily be the first thing you’d picture. However, time and time again, commercial construction companies are faced with clients seeking the trendiest and most contemporary ideas, making it essential to keep up with the movement and move alongside innovation. This means updating technology, changing old ways, and learning the importance and usage of new products. Luckily for many, keeping up with such things does not necessarily force companies to throw their veteran methods out the window, completely. Being an industry where trends last lengthy amounts of time and technology typically evolves where needed, professionals naturally have no problem adapting onward with trends and innovations.

Along the same lines of green thinking, Engineered Controls has seen a great demand for energy efficient buildings, including high-tech devices and enhanced security systems that are a central component of building management systems. Many long-term analyses show that there is a group of business sectors that currently and in the future will drive the management system sector of the building technology industry. Included in this is the desire for eco-friendly building technology, electrical energy management systems, LED lighting and lighting controls, security and access systems, LED lighting and lighting controls, security and access systems, asset management, smart buildings and the technology convergence into a single management system over a building.

Over the past years, Engineered Controls has performed many large owner-occupied environmental controls; building automation and security system retrofit projects with minimal disruption to their employees or the tenants of the facility. They make it a point to work with you and your staff to determine the age, equipment status, and present energy efficiency of your building. They are also able to analyze your existing energy usage and suggest the most cost effective solution that will meet your utility goals.

Engineered Controls maintains their pivotal role in Omaha’s commercial construction by focusing on two different roles; New Construction and Building Services. Pat Killeen of Engineered Controls expressed, “Our New Construction group focuses on providing traditional temperature control and digital building automation systems (BAS) for the new construction industry. With our experienced staff of sales, engineers and installation technicians, combined with our excellent relationships within the consulting, engineering, and contracting community, Engineered Controls has positioned itself to be the low cost leader in the plan and specification market in Nebraska and Iowa.”

Also focusing on Building Services, Engineered Controls makes it a point to follow through with their comprehensive retrofit and energy services in order to help those who look to reduce the amount of energy consumed and improve how well their building performs. Engineered Controls plans to place focus towards both of those segments of the market in 2016, having a team for new construction and their own direct sales teams in both Omaha and Lincoln offices.

Pat Killeen states, “Our staff of owner-direct and energy solutions sales engineers can provide building owners and managers responsive energy and retrofit solutions that can reduce their operating expenses, while also providing the energy efficiency savings they are looking for.”

Engineered Controls makes sure to integrate trends they are seeing within the industry, particularly with respect to Building Management Systems (BMS). These provide efficient control of internal comfort conditions, effective use of energy, and quick and effective responses to HVAC and security problems. This saves both time and money, while also providing information on problems in the building, allowing for computerized maintenance scheduling. This makes it both easy and effective for employees to use and detect problems. Pat Killeen explains of BMS, “By integrating HVAC, lighting and security functions all within one common BMS platform, a building’s power systems, lighting and illumination, electric power and control, security, video surveillance and magnetic card access, heating, and ventilation and air-conditioning systems will be monitored and controlled from one central location. Studies show that by 2018, it will be the integrated control systems that will show the greatest growth in future years. Although hardwired building management systems have been around since the late seventies, it will be the wireless technology that will continue to revolutionize building automation system marketing forward in 2016 and beyond.”

As a whole, the company would advise clients to get to know the consulting engineers who are designing their buildings. They find it is very important that the owners of the building participate in the design process and urge them to be a smart buyer. Occasionally in the commercial construction business, building owners will move into a building just to find they did not get what they necessarily wanted. That is why their involvement is pivotal in the process. Engineered Controls urges their cliental to get involved, ask questions, know what you want, and most importantly, know what you are getting before the decisions are made by everyone but you, the client.

Innovating the marketplace right now in the areas of equipment technology and jobsite safety is Midwest Woodworkers. Offering the first portable saw that truly takes table saw safety to the next level, the SawStop Jobsite Saw, Midwest Woodworkers abides not only by innovation, but also its core values including: customer focus, honesty and integrity, reliability, fun and enjoyment, and additionally, accountability.

Midwest Woodworkers makes it a point to focus a lot on table saw safety and making a jobsite as safe as possible. Gerry Phelan of Midwest Woodworkers informed, “We’ve developed a series of safety briefings on woodworking tools. It’s difficult for organizations to find new ways to make safety meaningful and relevant to their employees in safety meetings. We can provide solid, focused table saw safety content that makes safety real and memorable.”

They realize that the investment in a saw can seem expensive at $1,299 initially, but advises that if one compares this expense to that of an emergency room visit or an amputation, this can be looked at as a bargain. Taking a look at the numbers is convincing to say the least. On average, there is a table saw accident in the United States every nine minutes, along with ten amputations every single day. It is easy for society to overlook the impact injuries and mishaps having to do with table saws can have on an individual; however, Midwest Woodworkers really places an emphasis on table saw safety. They even emphasize it enough to have no reservation in regards to showing their products, specifically SawStop’s, capabilities and ways of safety. They are also even willing to offer the SawStop for a brief trial period. Gerry Phelan stated, “We hate to see companies come to us for a SawStop after they’ve had an incident. It usually means someone was hurt. We’d rather be proactive and keep those accidents from happening.”

Application

Applying clients’ numerous requests is never an easy job. With the help of a construction company, the client’s questions can easily be answered and their dream space can be fulfilled and be made to be visually appealing. However, this is not without hard work, analyzing the client’s requests, and actually applying them to the space. Rightfully so, clients have high expectations for the commercial construction company they are hiring to do a job. However, at an increasing rate, companies are finding that the more descriptive and specific clients are with their demands and wishes, the easier it is for the company deliver, and typically, the more pleased the client is.

Another aspect of application is applying the hired company’s advice towards your project. McGill Restoration, an industry leader in the rehabilitation and preservation of concrete and masonry structures, places great importance on advising clients on how to create the best outcome for their commercial projects. Darin Cielocha of McGill Restoration states, “While you may be focused on the project at-hand, you’ll also want to think ahead past that as commercial properties require continuous upkeep and maintenance. Once construction is completed, monitor your building on an annual basis and develop a one year, three year, five year, and ten year maintenance plan. Plan early in the year for annual maintenance projects and work with proven contractors to help facilities with those plans.”

Budget is of course a critical factor in a commercial construction project, but you’ll also want to factor in the costs you’ll incur each year so you don’t put too much into the project itself. McGill advises clients to have a maintenance budget in place for their facilities at the earliest point possible. They have also found benefits in planning early in the year in regards to projects that you look to finish within the calendar year. Having great outcomes with these projects also comes with having reputable contractors and design professionals that guarantee your projects are managed and completed correctly.

With projects that include: masonry restoration, parking garages/stadiums, and industrial and infrastructure/transportation (DOT), McGill Restoration is no stranger to industry movements. Darin tells that McGill Restoration has seen an overall increase in surrounding buildings and infrastructure spending money in order to maintain and renovate. They also have seen many facilities expand their operations and invest in increasing their production capabilities. Recent projects that McGill Restoration has under their belt are the renovation of Brandis Parking Garage (downtown Omaha), Holiday Inn Parking Garage (downtown Lincoln), and the Metropolitan Utilities District (MUD) in the Florence Filter Building. They have also done structure improvements at Agrium Homestead Fertilizer Facility, masonry repairs on various building façades in the Haymarket (downtown Lincoln), various NDOR bridge overlay projects throughout the state, and re-caulking of the exterior façade of Mutual of Omaha’s World HQ.

There are many things that go into a commercial construction project, with equipment and materials affecting the outcome just as much as the planning and execution.

Applying their knowledge of commercial construction equipment to fit the client’s need based on the job at hand, Honeyman Rent-All has an extensive rental inventory to offer. Additionally, they make a point to be hands-on in the experience and in the end, help to turn an idea into a reality.

Founded in 1968, Honeyman Rent-All makes sure to have all of the materials clients will need before they start their commercial project. With categories of tools like demolition equipment, lifts, ladders, moving and loading equipment, and many more, they know, with the help of their extensive consumer experience, what clients will need in certain circumstances they might run into. “From Forks to Forklifts” as they like to say, Honeyman Rent-All is committed to providing anything needed to get the job done.

Knowing that the average client appreciates a wide variety of choices, Ceramic Tileworks not only offers a vast variety of tiles to choose from, but they also offer additional products inclusive of: underlayments, mortars, grouts, caulks, high-quality granite and quartz counter tops, in addition to many other items. Ceramic Tileworks makes it a point to be a “one stop shop” for everything you need for your next tiling project.

Carrying tiles such as ceramic, porcelain, slate, and natural stone, Ceramic Tileworks values the fact that they are a specialty store. However, a great attribute of theirs, as a business, is that they have premium quality products at an outstanding price. They also offer a product log highlighting the numerous products they carry and include their staff in the experience, who apply their product knowledge and experience to help put everything together. With a sales staff that holds nine years of experience, Ceramic Tileworks can offer a great amount of information on every aspect of the tiling business.

Organization

In the eyes of the common pedestrian, there might be no sense of organization on a commercial construction site. But, in the workers’ eyes a very different outlook can be seen. Commercial construction, as a whole, needs to maintain a sense of organization in order to thrive, stay on budget, and get the job done. Without a sense of organization, the company could come face to face with obstacles, such as being untimely, the feeling of distress, and a jumble of unrelated ideas trying to be orchestrated. Keeping the public, welfare, and administration in mind, organization is necessary on job sites.

For Echo Systems, they maintain their best method of organization through being involved in the design process at the very beginning. As Doug Seaman of Echo Systems says, “The most important piece of planning advice we give to clients is to get us involved as early as possible in the design process. Sometimes as technology integrators, we have a substantial material effect on the overall design of a project based on the choices we can offer.”

As a resource for their clients with respect to technology solutions, Echo Systems maintains concentration on, but are not limited to, the following projects: Assisted Living Facilities, Board Rooms, Conference Rooms, Video Conferencing, Network Operations Centers (NOC), Digital Signage, and Commercial Sound. Having successfully undertaken both the Heritage DO Space and Saint Mary’s Community Hospital, Echo Systems installed up to date, technology solutions in both. These solutions included: video walls, control systems, kiosks, audio distribution, automation and control, video conferencing, and audio DSP.

Being very familiar with complex systems such as audio, video, lighting design, lighting control, and automated shades, it is no wonder Echo Systems is aware of numerous up-to-date technological trends in commercial construction. Doug Seaman says some of the biggest trends in their industry include 4K video, “bring your own device” (BYOD), and just overall simplicity in systems. 4K video is high-resolution video, which means new display devices (TVs and projectors) have incredible resolution. This can be used with digital signage, video walls, menu boards, way finding solutions, and others. People are also fans of BYOD. They really like the idea of bringing their own device, whether an iPhone, iPad, or other device, and being able to display it on a large scale. This is a central idea with device simplicity. Individuals urge companies to increase the ease of use for the contemporary systems they design and implement. Technology has no point in spaces if it is not used properly or not able to be used at all because people are not sure how to.

As it is with many projects, clients are faced with a level of uncertainty of what the outcome will specifically be. To minimize this, Echo Systems has a $2.5 million showroom that allows commercial clientele to experience demonstrations of technology that they are able to integrate into a space. With the trademark being a well-designed and engineered solution, one of the most important things to Echo Systems is doing what is right for the client. With many requests of simplicity and ease with systems, they make sure to convey their work to satisfy the client’s overall consumer impression.

In the proper organization of a commercial project, the first step is to determine the property lines in order to maximize the square footage used and to avoid any costly issues after the project is completed. Defining the boundaries of a comprehensive land area can be done with the help of Land Survey Inc.

Offering boundary surveys (allows you to locate property corners), ILR’s for title companies (Improvement Location Reports, also can be known as plot plans), and topographies (including elevations), Land Survey Inc. urges clients to be creative with their projects. Time and time again, Land Survey Inc. sees property owners referencing old landmarks, counting on things such as retaining walls and fencing to mark their property lines. Many do not realize how costly it can become if these lines prove to be inaccurate, so having the peace of mind and confidence that working with Land Survey Inc. offers is ideal for clientele. “The information we provide will also be critical down the road in clearing up any disputes or questions in regards to boundaries should they arise,” notes Toni Montana, owner of Land Survey Inc.

In the boundary business, GPS products are greatly affecting the market. With these products, the output verses cost ratio is far more optimal than in years past. What, at one point, took days or weeks to do, can now be completed within hours. This innovation has been very ideal to the market.

Commercial construction is everywhere in the world around us. While the activity itself is both demanding and arduous, all of the hard work contributes to a satisfactory end result that both the company and client are ordinarily satisfied with—and that changes the landscape of our city for the better. Being a positively reputable company that continues to innovate, apply its ever-growing knowledge, and maintain organization throughout the whole process, is the important groundwork that successful, lucrative commercial construction companies should maintain. Furthermore, while the inclusive components such as outlining, designing, and funding are essential to all commercial construction projects, this does not take away from the long hours, interaction, deep thought, and traditional values that these business professionals put into their work day after day.