Commercial Remodeling in Omaha – June 2023

If you’re ready to be in a new office space, don’t rush to create blueprints for a new build just yet. While there are many benefits to starting from scratch, there are just as many reasons to choose to remodel your current office or another existing building instead. Remodeling is a great choice for commercial buildings that have a good foundation but are just in need of a bit of TLC. Remodeling could be done to update the look of the building, implement more efficient methods in regards to the plumbing, electrical or HVAC, better utilize the space or all of the above. In addition, remodeling is typically the quicker and less expensive option when compared to building a completely new space.

With the population in Omaha and surrounding areas continuing to grow at an increasing rate, the commercial landscape of Omaha is steadily changing and expanding as well. Omaha consistently has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country. Because of this, new professionals are easily attracted to the area. All of this means good things for the construction industry, including a wealth of opportunities for exciting new projects and development.

The construction industry plays an important role in the economy. When the economy begins to slow down, the construction industry often feels the effects first – but when there is a strong demand for new construction, it’s an indicator the economy is on the right path. Despite the challenges presented by the pandemic, such as skyrocketing prices on building materials, major supply chain issues and labor shortages, the construction industry persevered. According to the US Census, it is estimated that total put-in-place for 2022 was around $1.79 trillion, an increase of 10.2% from the previous year (construction put-in-place is the estimated total dollar value of construction work done in the United States).

Research indicates that the most pervasive trends in commercial construction in 2023 include increased use of biological construction materials, safety features, remote technology, modular construction, artificial intelligence, 3-D printing, design technology, supply-chain alternatives and a move away from purchasing new equipment and instead renting or buying previously used implements. As we talked to local companies in the commercial construction business, we found some of the most common trends in the industry now include aerial imaging, attention to safety, quality, technology and environmental impact, prefabricated construction with precision engineering and consistent quality, repurposing of existing buildings, sustainability, advancement in energy-saving designs and more.

Are you ready to start from scratch with a new office building? Maybe you aren’t prepared to build a new office, but are interested in renovating an existing building. Regardless of the route you want to take, Omaha has many knowledgeable and experienced contractors that can help you create the most efficient and effective workplace.

Experts that Care

At Kingery Construction (www.kccobuilders.com), they provide full-service construction solutions, from pre-construction through project completion. Their mission is to deliver an exceptional level of professionalism, integrity and honesty, while also providing cost-effective solutions in a timely manner. With their team’s exceptional management skills and strong work ethic, they guarantee the highest-quality workmanship on every project. Kingery highly values their relationships and are committed to maintaining the trust and respect of employees, project owners, vendors and partners.

“Over the years, we have successfully completed projects through a variety of processes, including Design Build, Design Bid Build, Construction Management and as General Contractor,” said director of Construction Operations Jen Cowher. “Our experience, combined with our dedication to excellence, enables us to meet and exceed our clients’ expectations on every project.”

Kingery prides themselves on staying upto-date on improvements and new trends in the construction industry.

“Virtual construction remains in high demand as more owners recognize the benefits of BIM (Building Information Modeling), not only for reducing errors during construction, but also for maintenance after construction is completed,” Jen explained. “This technology provides a 3D digital representation of the building that includes all its components and systems, allowing for more accurate planning and visualization.”

In addition to BIM, there are now programs like Matterport that are designed to document the construction process through photos and videos. This technology provides a virtual tour of the building during each stage of construction, allowing stakeholders to monitor progress and identify potential issues before they become major problems.

“To facilitate the transfer of information, programs like Procore are adding features such as workflows that make it easier to track and share data. Workflows help ensure that all stakeholders are informed and that tasks are completed in the proper order, reducing the risk of errors and delays,” continued Jen. “Overall, the continued development of virtual construction technology is helping to make construction projects more efficient, cost-effective and sustainable. As these technologies continue to evolve, we can expect to see even more innovative solutions that will transform the way we build and maintain our infrastructure.”

Kingery Construction takes pride in the variety of projects we have completed and are currently working on. One of our current projects is the final phase of construction at the Lincoln Regional Center, where we are improving patient safety. We are also excited to be renovating Lefler Middle School to provide students with improved classroom and lunchroom facilities. The Omaha Kingery team is currently working on several projects including Ralston High School, Mockingbird Community Center and D.B. Property/ Voss Electric.

In recent years, the drive for environmentally friendly products and projects has increased. Many consumers are beginning to prioritize companies that use these eco-friendly processes, even at a slightly larger cost.

“Sustainable, eco-friendly building materials are still in high demand, and at Kingery Construction, we recognize the importance of utilizing such materials whenever possible,” Jen explained. “In projects where owners desire to prioritize sustainability, we have found that many green materials are only minimally more expensive than traditional building materials.”

As construction costs, material supply and workforce challenges continue to be concerns in the industry, Kingery has the expertise and ability to assess each project and find cost-effective alternatives without compromising quality or sustainability. Their commitment to providing excellent service and innovative solutions allows them to deliver projects that meet both their clients’ and their own high standards of quality and sustainability.

“Kingery Construction is thrilled to announce our expansion into the Omaha market through the acquisition of Construct Inc,” shared Jen. “This move aligns with our strategic goal of delivering exceptional commercial construction services to the communities of Nebraska. By integrating the expertise and knowledge of Construct Inc.’s employees in Omaha, we are confident that Kingery Construction will maintain our position as a premier provider of construction services for many years to come.”

Kingery Construction is dedicated to providing high-quality construction services to communities throughout Nebraska, and they look forward to continuing to contribute to the growth and development of the state through their work.

Recycled and Reclaimed

Remodeling is made more fun if you have fun things to shop for! If you are looking for unique, aesthetically pleasing building improvement products, Out of the Box (outoftheboxstore.net) is the place to go.

Founded in 2011 by Jody Strauch and Steen Lundberg, Out of the Box offers the finest designer names in gently used recycled and reclaimed improvement products at affordable prices. Every piece in the 20,000-square-foot showroom has been personally selected for its exceptional quality.

Jody and Steen believe beautiful pieces deserve to be treated to the utmost in care: cleaned, tested and displayed properly in a vignette setting in a well-lit showroom floor. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to be able to find that fabulous one-of-akind piece and clearly imagine how it would look in your office?

They feature the best in custom doors, lighting, furniture, entire kitchens and baths, all originally curated by top interior designers. Since these items are reclaimed or recycled, they are able to offer them at highly reduced prices!

Out of the Box is an environmentally green company and they strongly believe this is the way of the future – reusing remarkable products for a major renovation or simply selecting that special character piece for your home or office.

Remodel to Attract and Retain Talent

AOI (aoicorp.com) offers solutions for the built environment through their construction, furniture, and pre-manufactured construction groups. They’ve recently been seeing a lot of traction with their pre-manufactured interior construction group because it is perfectly suited to address the major issues that continue to face the industry – labor shortages, intermittent supply chain issues and unpredictable project costs. This group works with a system called DIRTT (Do It Right This Time) that offers a completely customized solution that delivers speed of construction with cost and schedule assuredness. We sat down with Vice President of Business Development Patrick Jensen to learn more about what AOI has been seeing as of late.

“Post COVID, businesses are working hard to bring people back to the office and give them the kind of workspace they desire. Couple that with the hot competition for talent and attracting and retaining talent is still paramount for the companies we work with,” shared Patrick. “The changes in the workplaces are meant to encourage people to be back in the office with spaces that build company culture and brand while providing health, wellness, collaboration, and productivity. The pandemic changed the way people want to work and their expectations of what a workspace should deliver. If companies don’t adapt and adjust, they will most certainly lose out to the ones who are demonstrating that they value their employees.”

Patrick cautioned that building owners must be flexible with their expectations, budgets and design choices when remodeling their structure. Intermittent supply chain issues are still a factor as is the increased cost of labor and materials. The changing availability of materials coupled with the tight labor market means costs can be unpredictable, which extends project durations and increases budgets. AOI mitigates these challenges by having alternative options ready to go for clients, who must also be able to make decisions quickly to eliminate any potential impact to their budget and schedule.

“AOI is unique because of what we offer with regard to interior renovation. We are the only general contractor that has a construction group along with a full-service furniture dealership – MillerKnoll – and pre-manufactured construction group – DIRTT,” Patrick explained. “This gives us the ability to be neutral with regard to solutions that fit clients’ needs. We don’t know whether the solution to their issues will be something a construction solution solves, or if a furniture solution may solve it, or if their issue is better served with a pre-manufactured approach – or maybe it is the combination of all three. That’s why our products and services are available individually or combined as part of a holistic approach developed in close collaboration with our clients and their design teams. We are trying to truly meet their needs, rather than offer solutions that pigeonhole them into ours.”

AOI is able to provide cost assurance, speed, and schedule reliability with their pre-manufactured construction group as distribution partner of DIRTT Environmental Solutions.

“The recent supply chain challenges in construction provided great opportunities for DIRTT Environmental Solutions to shine the light on several critical value propositions available to our clients including speed to market, fit and finish, and future adaptability,” explained Patrick. “The standard lead times for DIRTT products are astonishingly short. Walls with power are 14 days manufacturing from order entry. Casework manufacturing is 21 days from order entry, while Timber Framing is just 28 manufacturing days from order entry. The final interiors of a DIRTT project provide significantly higher quality in fit and finish in a fraction of the time it would take to do conventionally. More of your construction budget stays in your project on a DIRTT job.”

If you’re a first-time remodeler, Patrick recommends partnering with a design team and general contractor you can trust. They are going to be your advocates for purchasing construction services and providing you with the best solutions to achieve your goals, while driving your project to fruition. For the time that they are engaged with you on your project, they should act – and be treated – as an extension of your business.

Start with a Foundation

If you are looking into renovating a new space for your business, consider starting from the ground up – literally. RSW Floors & More (rswfloors.com) is your local resource for all things flooring.

RSW Floors & More usually come into a building before all of the furniture, decorations and people move in, and they coat the concrete flooring with epoxy and flakes and can create decorative patterns if you choose. Commercially, they work with schools, locker rooms, bar backs, kitchen areas, industrial warehouses, restaurants, vet offices and more. Their floors are tough, long-lasting and built for heavy-duty use. They also come with a five-year warranty on commercial flooring.

The installation takes about 48 hours, but RSW Floors & More suggest that business owners prep the space before hand to ensure that the process goes smoothly, and that no one has to move furniture or other things back and forth during the installation.

The renovation process might be lengthy and it might be tempting to take some things on by yourself, but it is important to be patient and let professionals do things the right way. Leave flooring to the professionals as you take on a lot of risk by doing it yourself without proper knowledge. If you want your floors to last in the long run, talk to a professional about what they can do for you. Remember, you get what you pay for!

Need more than flooring? RSW would love to help you with the following residential projects. Reach out to them about projects that you may not see listed as well, they may be able to help!

• Cabinets – custom builds and installs
• Cabinet Organizing
• Garage Cleaning
• Garage Organizing
• And MORE!

RSW Floors & More is committed to making sure you have the best possible experience with their services. They are all about details and will make sure your project is done exactly how you want it. They will come do a courtesy check on the new flooring about a week to ten days after the job is complete. You can be sure you are getting the best possible work done on your flooring because there will be a manufacturer representative available to give a second opinion on any job that requests it. Owner and Operator Raimond Wojtalewicz schedules the job and comes to do it himself, so you know that no details will be forgotten.

Plan for Future Growth

Farris Engineering (farris-usa.com) is an employee-owned building design firm that specializes in mechanical, electrical, plumbing, fire protection and commissioning services. Their roots date back to 1967, and they’ve completed over 34,000 projects and 44 states.

Farris Engineering provides a broad swath of commercial building design and construction abilities. Everything from mechanical, plumbing, electrical and data-comm design is part of every job. Farris Engineering ensures that all options and decisions are in step with what the client would like to see and needs for a successful project. Whatever you need for building design, Farris can help you get there!

“We can provide technology infrastructures that are highly flexible and capable of future growth,” shared Electrical Engineer Derek Brooks, PE, LC. “Our engineers are committed to staying up-to-date on current technology trends and will provide costeffective designs to meet your requirements today with an eye on the future. Knowing your goals, we’ll work with you to determine the best approach needed and help you stay within your budget.”

The technology staff at Farris includes Registered Communications Distribution Designers (RCDD) and electrical engineers with low-voltage expertise. They provide data center design, telecommunications infrastructure, audio and visual system design and security system design.

The foundation for useful design solutions can be found in Farris’ planning services. From comparing total life cycle costs to lowest up-front or energy usage, to determining the right scope for projects, their experienced team brings a wealth of insight and experience. Their 3D models and photometric renderings help clients make better decisions. This technology provides Farris with increased coordination abilities and allows their clients, in addition to the design team, to see how the building functions and flows to meet goals and characteristics that are unique to each building project.

“I feel that Farris Engineering has the ability and experience to work in any type of building construction condition and usage. As I age in this industry, I feel that sustainability and energy conservation must be part of the grand picture for a project to be successful,” said Derek. “I also believe that communication between the owner, client, designers and tradesman must be optimal to achieve a solid and functional building.”

Your Construction Partner for Life

As an employee-owned firm that has been in business for over 60 years, you can be assured that Cheever Construction (cheeverconstruction.com) will deliver on their promises. They’ve completed numerous renovations, historical renovations and new construction projects since their start. For each project, decisions on many different aspects will affect the ultimate outcome.

“While there are many different delivery methods, the three that are most often used are design-bid-build, construction management and design build,” explained President Justin Kurtzer. “To start, in design-bid-build delivery, a business owner hires an architect to design the remodel in full. They create both a plan and specifications to fulfill the owner’s program requirements. The project goes out for competitive bid to a select group of general contractors, or as ‘open-to-all.’”

Some of the advantages of design-bid-build include its single point of responsibility for construction, compliance with public bidding policies, construction documents that clearly define the scope of work and a project cost that is established through the bidding process. As for the construction management approach, it begins with a business owner hiring a construction manager early in the planning process to provide pre-construction services; working with the architect and/or engineer (under separate contracts with the owner) to establish the project program, constructability and schedule and establish benchmark budgets in a team environment.

“With a design-build approach, a business hires, under a single contract, the construction manager and design professional, which combine services to provide a single point of accountability for the entire project,” explained Justin. “The entity is responsible for delivering both the design documents and completing construction according to the owner’s requirements. Some advantages of this approach are that the contractor has input during design, the price is guaranteed, there is a single point of responsibility for construction and design and construction can overlap to accelerate project delivery.

“Whichever method you choose, Cheever Construction approaches each project with consistent objectives for success. We utilize an effect schedule coupled with the quality and skill from our subcontractors and combined with our field craftsmen. Cheever takes pride in all of the relationships that we have entered into. We strive to make each project the precursor to the next project, while building a lasting relationship with everyone involved,” Justin concluded.

Save Energy

Control Depot (controldepotinc.com) partners with the leading suppliers of building technologies in order to provide their customers the best products available. As a Honeywell Authorized Systems Distributor, Control Depot offers a full-line of Honeywell commercial and residential products to fulfill any HVAC control or security needs. From a simple residential thermostat to a complex web-based building automation system, they support and stock the Honeywell parts you need.

From their start in 2006, Control Depot has now progressed to being one of the leading Honeywell distributors in the nation. Honeywell is well-known throughout its 128-year history as a leader in temperature controls. As a twostep distribution channel, Control Depot is proud to offer the products and innovations that have made Honeywell a trusted partner in the industry.

“Control Depot’s primary goal is to offer the necessary systems and replacement parts that will provide a safe, comfortable working environment, as well as cut wasteful energy costs,” Vice President Jeff Killeen said. “We are helping companies become more sustainable and improve their bottom lines.”

As a Honeywell-Authorized Systems Distributor, Control Depot offers a full-line of Honeywell commercial and residential products to fulfill any HVAC controls or security needs. From a simple thermostat to a complex web-based building automation system, you can find it at Control Depot. In addition to wholesale counterline, Control Depot provides contractor programs, consulting services, parts coverage, control panel fabrication, training and gas detection calibration.

“We have assembled a team of knowledgeable, qualified individuals whose goal is to assist each customer with personal service rooted in their experience. Because our inventory rivals any of the largest retailers, we can offer comprehensive solutions for building controls,” Jeff added. “Thanks to our partnership with Contemporary Controls, Control Depot offers additional technological solutions, which focus on providing reliable networking and communication for control systems.”

Control Depot also provides combustion controls, electrical products, tools and equipment, metering, lighting controls, field devices and gas detections.

“If you’re looking to have an energy-saving building with low operational costs after your remodel is completed, our building automation systems can help you,” explained Jeff. “Our building automation platforms connect your HVAC equipment for air handling units, variable volume boxes, heat pumps, fan coil units, boilers and chillers and more. Additionally, our building automation controls will integrate lighting systems, flow and KW metering equipment along with security and life safety systems, enabling them to talk to each other in a single language, on a single platform. This gives you information to make better decisions, save money and improve the way your building functions.”

Businesses aren’t only considering indoor optimization to improve efficiency and comfort, many are also looking to their outdoor space for remodeling projects. Corporations such as Google and Microsoft have elected for outdoor spaces that allow their employees to work outside of the office or enjoy a leisurely view. From Facebook in the Silicon Valley to Shutterstock in New York City, spacious rooftop work spaces have become a popular choice even when outdoor space isn’t readily available. Businesses incorporating a pleasing outdoor space into their plans can create a welcoming environment for customers and attract young professionals to see them as a desirable employer.

Let’s Talk Concrete

Pitzl Contracting was established in 2021 by brothers Joe and Eric Pitzl. They brought over 20 years of experience with them, and now have grown to a staff of 13 employees. Pitzl current services range from concrete removal, concrete repair, driveways, patios, garage floors, pool decks, sidewalks and pathways, concrete slabs and flat work, parking lots, stamped and stained concrete and steps for commercial and residential services. During the winter months they offer snow removal services for properties around the Omaha area. The Pitzl Contracting logo represents a picture of the founders’ father, Steve Pitzl, who passed away in 2021. Pitzl takes great pride in the services and the quality of the services they offer their customers.

Stay Fresh

The Grout Medic (www.thegroutmedic.com) is the nation’s leading provider of maintaining existing tile installations. They steam clean showers, tile and grout and replace caulk in counters and showers. The Grout Medic can replace broken tiles, repair water damaged shower walls and change grout colors by color sealing. Their goal is to service and maintain your showers, floors, back splashes and fireplaces, or anywhere you have tile, grout or caulking, giving them years of life.

The Grout Medic has established itself as one of the premier tile and grout cleaning and repair companies in the nation. With over 30 years of experience, you can count on them to deliver nothing less than unrivaled, spectacular results.

They are a national company with established cleaning techniques, and they handle both residential and commercial tile cleaning, tile repair, tile replacement, regrouting, recaulking and tile grout color staining. If it involves tile and grout, you can count on them to restore it back to its former beauty.

The Grout Medic offers proprietary GREEN grout cleaning technology, which is safe for your family and environmentally friendly. As an experienced grout cleaning company, they can offer grout cleaning for any size project – whether it’s one area in your home or an entire wing of a commercial building. Their professional grout cleaners will get the job done to your complete satisfaction. They guarantee it.

Here’s what you can expect with The Grout Medic:

• Fully insured
• Written estimates
• Fully trained technicians
• Local service with national support
• Advanced technology for superior results

The Grout Medic’s professional technicians are trained to provide the most advanced restoration services available coupled with a superior level of in-home customer service. As a national brand with the industry’s only dedicated training program, you can be assured that when you see The Grout Medic uniform you are receiving service from a highly qualified grout and tile expert. Customers across the country have come to regard The Grout Medic as simply the most professional and most advanced aftercare resource for grout and tile.

Omaha’s Newest Tile Maven

From kitchen backsplashes to entryway flooring to the shower walls, tile and stone are some of the most important details you’ll pick out when building. Choose wisely when selecting the tile and stone to put into your business – it can really make a difference on the outcome of the remodel! In this case, we recommend the professionals at Maven Tile & Stone (maventileandstone.com). They are a tile design studio that specializes in showcasing unique tiles and stones, as well as other commodity products. New to the Omaha market, they’re excited to officially be open serving the Omaha community. They will offer both specialty and commodity products, and clients who purchase through Maven are offered Owner Lizett Nissenson’s tile design services at no charge. The store will be open to both the general public and the trades. To make the building process even more convenient, job site delivery is also available at an additional charge.

“We strive to help you pick the product that is best for your individual needs and goals,” shared Lizett. “We are here to make your process easier, which includes answering the technical questions and doing walk-throughs on projects during non-business hours. Plus, clients that purchase through us are offered my tile design services at no charge.”

The hands-on tile design studio has samples available in their showroom and design center for builders who come in with a set of plans or property owners who want to get ideas and advice for their remodel. Some of the commercial projects Maven has been on before includes restaurants, yoga studios, med spas and hotels.

Lizett’s history in the world of tile design dates back to the age of 20 when she became a sales associate at a tile store in Long Beach, CA, where she was born in raised. It was a total fluke, but Lizett ended up never leaving the industry. She went on to open up her own shop in Manhattan Beach at the age of 36, working by appointment only for high-end clients. Then, about three years ago, Lizett and her husband Hugo decided to leave Califor nia and find a good home where they could raise their daughter. The guidance from a few friends lead them to Lincoln, and now Lizett shares her expertise with our local community.

The hands-on tile design studio has samples available in their showroom and design center for homeowners who want to get ideas and advice for their new home.

Contact Lizett at (531) 249-5917 / mavendesign2016@gmail.com or visit maventileandstone.com / Instagram (@maventileandstone) to check out Maven’s beautiful tile and stone collection. The studio is located at 7011 Kentwell Ln., STE 300 in Lincoln.

Ready to start taking out those walls and ripping up that flooring? We suggest first putting on some safety glasses and reaching out to these local remodeling businesses. Your priorities are their priorities, and you’ll find yourself in your ideal workspace after partnering with these contractors.