There is evidence of timber homes from the Mesolithic period (stone age), as well as Norwegian Stave churches from the 12^th and 13^th centuries where original structural wood is still intact. Today, with the advent of modern tools, the efficiency with which wood is used has greatly improved, making it an even more viable high-performance construction material. But the advent of Portland cement in the 1820s resulted in mass concrete structures becoming the standard. This was especially so when steel reinforcement was introduced in the 1850s.

However, with changing building standards and material evolutions, wood has once again gained prominence as a building material of choice, regarded for its functional, environmental, economic, and aesthetic performance.

The original green building product
Green construction was established as a formal concept in the 1960s and gained traction during the energy crisis of the 1970s, but it wasn’t until the 1980s, when it was formalized by the UN, and the 1990s, when it was enshrined through formal standards and organizations, that green building really took command of hearts, minds, and projects that sought to have a positive impact on their communities.

Over the last several decades, new rating systems and government support have reinforced these standards, encouraging the adoption of environmentally sustainable materials, approaches, and perspectives, particularly when it comes to the use of wood products.

Lumber serves as an extremely workable natural resource that has been used in construction for thousands of years but continues to contribute to the beauty and function of projects around the world, especially with the advent of mass timber engineered wood products, which are composed of multiple layers of solid wood panels held together by glue, nails, or dowels.

Engineered wood products are regarded for their high strength-to-weight ratio, which can exceed steel by 20 percent and non-reinforced concrete by four to five times. Engineered wood also boasts flexibility when compared to raw timber materials, which means they can be used for load-bearing applications and larger structures. Used for floor and ceiling beams, roof and wall panels, framing studs, door and window headers, and much more, the advantages of its use are endless but have not been recognized fully due to regulatory barriers.

One of the biggest impediments to the adoption of mass timber in North America has been outdated building codes that previously capped mass timber structures at no larger than six storeys, or 85 feet. As such, mass timber projects were limited to residential homes and smaller buildings until 2021, when regulatory changes allowed the building material to realize its full potential.

And that it did.

Built in 2022, the Ascent MKE in Milwaukee, Wisconsin is the tallest mass timber building in the world. Standing at 284.1 feet tall, the 25-storey luxury residential tower features a hybrid structure of cross-laminated timber (CLT) and glue-laminated timber (glulam) on top of a concrete podium that composes the building’s base, stair, and elevator shafts.

According to Korb Architecture, who was part of the project team, “While pushing the boundaries of mass timber design, Ascent’s development underwent ample research, testing, engineering analysis, and product certifications to prove its safety and durability.” This was achieved in partnership with the USDA’s Forest Products Laboratory in Madison, Wisconsin, where the team completed the world’s first three-hour test for glulam timber columns.

Further to being the tallest mass timber structure in the world (for now), the project exceeded building energy code standards and life safety standards. Aesthetically, much of the wood was left visible, with each apartment featuring exposed wood columns, beams, and ceilings.

The project was built in about half the time it would take for a concrete building to go up and enjoys a number of performance advantages over steel and concrete, chiefly that it sequesters nearly 7,200 metric tons of carbon dioxide, which is significant.

This ability to store carbon is the equivalent of removing 2,400 cars from the road for a year, or the amount of CO₂ emitted by heating 1,200 homes in a year, while the volume of timber used on the project can be regrown in no time at all throughout North American forests.

Economically and environmentally superior
According to a study titled Comparison of Embodied Carbon Footprint of a Mass Timber Building Structure with a Steel Equivalent (by Hemmati et al.), mass timber can result in a 19 percent reduction in emissions versus steel. It also results in a lower processing impact compared to concrete and steel as it requires less water waste. In fact, many lumber mills have turned to the wood byproducts the industry produces for use as biofuels for their facilities, which further improves the environmental performance of the material as it reduces reliance on fossil fuels for its production.

Another study found that mass timber materials have the potential to store between 9.9 and 16.5 million tons of CO₂ per year for 50 years, which equates to 12 to 20 percent of the total U.S. harvested wood products’ carbon storage for 2020. By 2034, there is the potential for mass timber to store more carbon than North America’s construction industry emits.

Where selective harvesting, forest management, and replanting practices have been instituted, the benefits of lumber as a renewable resource are truly endless. The natural cellular structure and insulative properties of lumber results in less demand on heating and cooling energy for the structure, which drives down costs and environmental impact. Likewise, lumber can help regulate humidity levels, avoiding rot and supporting a longer lifecycle.

Wood building products are also regarded for their seismic performance, fire safety (as it has been engineered to char predictably), countless environmental and aesthetic benefits and, thanks to its efficiency and the ability to prefabricate components, faster construction with less physical labour. All of these factors make the material cost-competitive and extremely valuable at a time when skilled labour is dear.

Wood also has a positive impact on the built environment and everyone in it, as exposure to nature and natural elements supports health outcomes such as improved cognitive function and psychological wellbeing, lower blood pressure and stress response, better immune function, and faster healing and recovery. Its sound absorption properties contribute to a calming environment, which makes it a design team’s dream.

A commodity worth protecting
Lumber is not only important for construction; it also constitutes a major portion of Canada’s economy, and its value is evident as it has long been the source of political tensions, chiefly the softwood lumber dispute that has long muddied relations with the U.S.

Softwood, which is derived from coniferous trees, represents the majority of wood products produced and is primarily sourced from British Columbia, while Canada’s hardwood industry is primarily based in Quebec, Ontario, and the Maritimes. Alberta is regarded for its large volumes of aspen and poplar, which are not technically hardwood but are significant contributors to the sector.

According to figures from Natural Resources Canada, the forestry sector contributed $33.4 billion to Canada’s nominal GDP in 2022, employing more than 212,000 people, with most of the lumber produced being exported (making Canada the fourth largest forest products exporter in the world). In 2022, total forest product exports generated $45.6 billion, which is subject to tariffs and restrictions imposed by the U.S. to protect the domestic industry from competition. This has resulted in Canada’s seeking new market relationships with countries like Japan, China, and EU nations.

However strong, the sector is undergoing change in Canada due in large part to the loss of large sawmills in the country, a ripple effect from the fall in demand for paper products as well as a move toward more technically efficient operations. But with the growing trend toward mass timber construction and continued demand for tried-and-true lumber products that are renewable and sustainable and contribute to the overall performance of project outcomes during construction and upon completion, wood will continue to be prioritized by construction professionals.

Lumber is good for the function and aesthetic of spaces, as well as the economic and environmental bottom lines, advantages that cannot be denied. Through sound policies, governments can ensure that the many advantages of its use in construction are maximized.

The post Centuries of Use, Continued Innovation<p class="company">Lumber, the Original Green Building Solution</p> appeared first on Construction In Focus.

For CSM Group, this has meant that, as global supply chains have shifted, with many manufacturers reshoring and strengthening their domestic footprints, CSM has built the capacity and expertise to lead even the largest, most complex projects to success across industries and sectors. The $515 million Kalamazoo Event Center—a 453,000-square-foot sports and entertainment complex developed in joint venture with Barton Malow—stands as a defining example of exactly what that means in practice. How does CSM Group get there? By doing things differently.

Focusing on its people and its purpose, on the relationships it builds and the projects that are its lifeblood, CSM Group has set the bar higher for safety and performance and advanced a model for workforce development within its own ranks that redefines how the construction industry can attract, retain, and grow talent at a time when demand is at its highest. This is a model built from the inside out; it is rooted in how CSM hires, supports, and develops its own people and extends those same expectations to the trade partners and subcontractors it brings into the fold.

Investing in people
Unceasing investment in people and new skill sets is the mark of the highest achievers across industries and sectors, especially since the shortage of skilled labor has become more pronounced in fields like construction, prompting leaders like CSM Group to radically shift their approach to talent attraction, retention, and development.

“Labor is a big challenge, and so, in manufacturing and construction, we have to think differently,” says Todd McDonald, Principal and Project Executive.

‘Differently’ in this case means several things. It means giving people second and third chances, looking beyond the actions of the individual and instead focusing on the person and their situation to understand what may be acting as a barrier to success. It also means working with partners to collectively address these systemic issues.

As McDonald notes, “Those who might be underserved, or in poverty—we may not understand their situation. We have to ask them, and then we have to be able to put wraparound services in place, which we have, but it’s teaching our trade partners to ask those questions as well.” For instance, when employees are repeatedly tardy, instead of viewing them as unemployable, efforts can be made to understand why they are late and to make accommodations where possible. Bus schedules change. Life and responsibilities can become overwhelming. Sometimes it’s just as simple as adjusting a person’s start and end time to help them succeed so they can get their kids to school or catch the bus at a more reasonable time.

Doubling down on its purpose
CSM Group is also working with other firms to secure the required numbers to undertake projects of the most imposing size and scope. The company hosted four Contractor Resource Forums, issuing public invitations to any smaller minority-owned or veteran-owned businesses interested in partnership opportunities, present and future.

“They could come to this resource forum, which we used not only as an informational town hall about the project and the benefit it would have for the community as a whole, but we also used it as a networking opportunity,” says Senior Director of Marketing and Sales, Katrina Reed, noting that the efforts have had impressive results.

Three years into a five-year plan, CSM Group is starting to see the impact of changes implemented over the last several years. These have enabled the organization to align itself more accurately and better serve what CEO Stuart Mason refers to as “complicated, high-barrier-to-entry markets,” like biopharma, advanced technology, and other global clients who are reshoring their operations.

A big part of this push has to do with technology—not only staying connected and optimizing efficiency internally, but also building experience with the advanced technology and controls required by complex projects.

Tying this all together in a perfect package is safety, which is an overarching priority at CSM Group that extends beyond physical safety to include psychological security for staff and partners in knowing that their investments are being managed to the highest standards of care and skill.

“We are constantly investing, training our people, putting processes and systems in place, and training our managers to create psychologically safe environments for our colleagues to do their best work,” says Mason. “We go back to the intention of working with industry-leading clients, which then pushes us to change, to improve at every level of complex sophistication, and we bring that knowledge and change back to our people, our processes, but more importantly, the confidence and capability of our teams and our partners.”

Limits and how to push them
Part of CSM Group’s growth strategy has been knowing when and how to pursue projects at the outer edge of scale and complexity—and building the partnerships needed to deliver them. The Kalamazoo Event Center is a case in point. Undertaken as a joint venture with Barton Malow, a nationally recognized construction firm, the project reflects both CSM’s expanded capability and its disciplined approach to complex delivery. Large-scale, high-barrier projects of this nature are commonly structured as joint ventures, combining complementary strengths to serve the client and community at the highest level. As Mason puts it, “The timing for this project was perfect for us. Our team was ready.”

Beyond the numbers, the Kalamazoo Event Center represents something deeper: the culmination of a 20-year relationship and shared ambition between CSM and its client, one that will irreversibly and positively impact the lives of a grateful community.

“This has been a project that was a vision 20 years ago. It’s taken a long time to come to fruition, and we’re very fortunate to have people in our community, such as our client, who are willing to personally invest in the community and in organizations within the community to have this sort of impact,” says McDonald. Through projects like the Kalamazoo Event Center and the Kalamazoo Country Club, CSM Group is truly having a substantial impact on the communities it calls home.

The Kalamazoo Country Club project seeks to provide a world-class experience for members, including course updates, the addition of a golf performance center, indoor and outdoor tennis and pickleball facilities, a bowling alley, and a theater, as well as four pools, a splash pad, and waterslides, making it a destination for the whole family.

Mason credits the Country Club project for having an in-depth sustainability plan before construction and a very clear objective of improving member wellbeing and health through building design. Built from mass timber, it is a marquee project for both the firm and the community.

In discussing the uniqueness of these projects, Mason emphasizes the pride felt by everyone involved. “There will not be another event center like the one that’s being built in downtown Kalamazoo. There will not be another Country Club built like this anywhere, probably on the planet. The level of complexity needed to bring all of those parts and pieces together to create that 100-year kind of vision that you know is the best-in-class customer experience is a hard thing to do successfully. There are very few organizations and companies that could do that in a safe and sustainable way.”

Success worth replicating
Whether it’s people, processes, or projects, CSM Group has raised the bar for the industry in a big way and continues to do so by leading with intention.

“We’re always seeking out what ‘can’t’ be done; it’s in our DNA. Clients want to work with companies that care about what they do, care about the people, care about their partners, and care about the outcomes,” comments Mason on the purpose and drive that lie behind the firm’s ability to be successful.

This is especially true of CSM’s workforce development model, which can be replicated on future projects in different markets. “That’s certainly what we’ve been working to do with our ecosystem partners,” says Reed of the company’s innovative approach to talent acquisition and capacity building.

As it stands, CSM Group holds a commanding presence in the Southwestern Michigan market, but it continues to look to new horizons and possibilities, including Texas, where, true to the state’s reputation, big things are happening.

Acknowledging that the “how” and “why” behind its approach might be more important than the “what” it does, CSM Group continues to evolve while staying true to its core values and relationships, ensuring that its purpose is fulfilled and that clients’ projects are second to none. As Mason says, “Our legacy is that we want to do projects and programs that have a longstanding positive impact on the country, on society, so we’ve got to be very intentional about it.”

The post Delivering What Others Can’t: Inside CSM Group’s Approach to Complex Construction<p class="company">CSM Group</p> appeared first on Construction In Focus.

Through elevated design, process, craftsmanship, and service, Archadeck of Nova Scotia and CASE Design/Remodeling Halifax have firmly rooted themselves in the Nova Scotia market and beyond, building on a strong reputation. Now, under new leadership with the same commitment to exceptional builds and relationships rooted in trust, both companies continue to forge a path forward as construction partners of choice within their respective specialties, simultaneously growing the size and the positive impact they have for customers, employees, and vendors.

Elevating spaces
During the pandemic, stay-at-home orders had people questioning if their homes made the most sense for their new lifestyles. With this consideration came an uptick in business, catalyzing strong growth for both Archadeck of Nova Scotia and CASE Design/Remodeling, who rode the rapid inflow of leads to create functional and aesthetically pleasing places and spaces that homeowners could be proud of.

As that wave of demand levelled off, the firms have remained steadily at it, undertaking everything from traditional to complex projects with elaborate structures that require structural work. From the largest, most complicated build to the smaller, simpler ones, all are met with the same commitment to excellence.

Owner Santiago Pinzon acknowledges the two companies’ maturity, the confidence they bring to jobsites, and the value they bring to homeowners who are making a very significant investment: “Not everyone is comfortable opening the side of someone’s house and making sure that you build something that’s structurally sound and meets code,” he says. “It really encompasses a big investment for a successful project that can be enjoyed for 20-plus years.”

Archadeck of Nova Scotia has operated since 2002, while CASE Design/Remodeling entered the market five years later in 2007. Since then, the two firms continue to prove their capacity and value to homeowners in the province, which is why they caught the attention of Pinzon and his team when looking for a construction company to acquire.

Further to the craftsmanship and established relationships the companies enjoyed, service delivery continues to be optimized through investments in technology, ensuring that CASE and Archadeck remain on the leading edge of innovation, communication, and efficiency.

“With our process and software, when you sign up for a project, you get a whole team behind you,” Pinzon explains of the various components of a project. “You’re getting the perspective from every single party that makes a project happen before actually being on site. We can mitigate the risks to the homeowner and internally, we can make sure that we plan things properly so the project can be the most efficient it can be.”

The experienced team of designers, project managers, and carpenters are enabled by technology to provide the greatest possible value for the homeowners who “don’t have to be consulting three or four different parties and getting them to agree. They’re coming to a single place that’s going to take care of them,” says Pinzon.

Technology empowers the homeowners through efficient communication and information sharing amongst all project stakeholders, and this is all available through their mobile devices. The approach imparts confidence that the homeowner’s investment is in good hands, but it also optimizes workflow and outcomes. This is especially true of the design-build projects the firms undertake.

Minimizing risk
For Pinzon, “When it comes to design-build versus traditional construction methods, design-build is really meant to lower the risk for both parties, the contractor and the homeowner. So, when it comes to working with us, you’re not signing on a large project without knowing everything that’s going to be involved, without knowing what it’s going to look like, and without really going through all the paces. You see it in front of you before you’re signing.”

Technology not only brings visions to life through renderings, but it also supports due diligence and accountability by tracking performance, which Pinzon says leaves homeowners free to enjoy “the fun part of the work. They get to make the choices and be excited about the project while we’re taking care of the more technical side.”

The technical side that he is referring to relates to the entirety of the scope of the project, from initial consultations through design, material selections, and construction. The pace moves in accordance with the customer’s comfort level, and everything is optimized from a design, delivery, and cost perspective.

“Having a fixed price for a construction project is of utmost essence to a homeowner,” notes Pinzon. “We do fixed-price contracts because we do the due diligence upfront and then we’ll actually credit all the money that you’ve invested into design into the construction project, so you’re really getting the value back from our team.”

Value-based design
There is a reason why Archadeck of Nova Scotia and CASE Design/Remodeling Halifax are multi-award-winning firms: the approach to people, partners, and projects is consistent and rooted in trust. This is all the validation that Pinzon needs.

From the front office administrator to the various trades on site, he acknowledges that, “it takes a whole team to make a successful project happen and we always want to celebrate the wins—whether they’re big or small, whether it’s an award or a simple ‘thank you’ from the client.”

To be sure, culture is a critical part of the companies’ success, and it was an important part of the acquisition of the company by Santiago’s team. Such a winning culture came about in large part thanks to the foundation laid by Maurice Meagher, who established and grew the companies. “From the first call between me and Maurice when we were looking at purchasing the businesses, there was clear alignment on approach,” says Pinzon, which was pivotal for both sides of the agreement.

For Meagher, who has worked to establish a strong culture characterized by clear communication and strong feedback loops whereby action can be taken to further optimize and improve performance, it is imperative to understand people’s motivations; this is true not only of getting the most out of employees, but of relationships in general.

“We’re both very aligned and if there is one thing that matters, it’s that people care; if we care for them, they’re going to care for their project and everyone is going to care for each other, and that’s what a good culture really is. It goes well beyond the numbers: you take care of people, they’ll take care of you, and then everyone wins together,” says Pinzon.

A new era of trust
With Pinzon at the helm of Archadeck of Nova Scotia and CASE Design/Remodeling Halifax, the motivation goes far beyond simply growing for growth’s sake. “We really want to elevate what residential construction looks like for homeowners,” says Pinzon, adding, “I don’t even want to say that we’re setting the bar high. I think it should be the bare minimum for homeowners.”

In a market that could use stronger consumer protections, he believes that within the processes at Archadeck of Nova Scotia and CASE Design/Remodeling Halifax can help set the tone. “There are protections that need to exist for clients. Following the right model and process, making sure that the minimum standard that we’re setting is what it should be across all of Canada, is why we’re doing this.”

Looking ahead, despite the countless uncertainties in the market, one thing remains stable and that is the fact that Archadeck of Nova Scotia and CASE Design/Remodeling Halifax are true construction partners who seek to add value to projects and relationships through their work.

“We focus on doing consistent delivery of quality projects, providing a good experience for clients, and then also a good experience for our team and our employees to grow,” says Meagher. He knows the companies and their legacy are in good hands and will continue to grow thanks to the exceptional processes and standards they espouse.

The post Elevated Design, Optimized Processes, Exceptional Craftsmanship<p class="company">Archadeck of Nova Scotia and CASE Design/Remodeling Halifax</p> appeared first on Construction In Focus.

Now under the RagnarTech, Inc. banner, Ragnarsson and his core team of professionals are forging yet another path forward, breaking new ground with that familiar commitment to continuous improvement and innovation that originated with Ragnarsson and now shapes this company’s DNA.

RagnarTech engineers and manufactures practical equipment that improves safety, optimizes performance, and reduces operating costs, making the work easier on site, on the environment, and on the bottom line. RagnarTech also serves as the exclusive North American distributor for JAK-Metalli Oy tree shears and UFKES Greentec chippers.

The RagnarTech 9700 is an extremely productive grinder that supports land clearing, stumps, yard waste, wood debris, and regrind of a variety of materials, while the RagnarTech 9400 serves as an HZ shredder, grinder, and chipper that can support medium contaminated material, high volumes of wood, and other debris.

Designed for application, the equipment comes in a variety of configurations to precisely meet the user’s needs with the promise of elevated performance, quality, and unmatched factory-direct service, a value proposition that has confirmed RagnarTech as the kind of market pace-setter that continually pushes the bar higher for itself, the competition, and the industry.

Rooted in innovation
Born and raised on a farm in Sweden, Anders Ragnarsson’s upbringing helped shape his genius for innovation, using his own insight and expertise to design equipment that intimately addresses the user’s needs in unique ways. After arriving in the U.S. in the 1980s, Ragnarsson established a tree service company and was quickly confronted with the limitations of existing wood waste processing equipment, which laid the groundwork for the next 40 years.

Credited as “a great mind,” it was Ragnarsson’s innovative approach, the unmatched performance of his machines, and the integrity with which he conducted business that won the respect of the industry. “He thought he could make a better version,” says Vice President Nate Eskeland, and so he did, time and again throughout his career with different companies and different iterations of his innovation.

In 1995, Ragnarsson moved away from tree service and established CBI with the launch of a mobile wood grinder that addressed a performance gap in the market. It also happened to steal the attention of the many operators who desired that level of quality and throughput.

In 2016, the decision was made to sell the company that he had built from the ground up. “After 25 years of starting and growing CBI and having the reputation of building the best grinder on the market, they eventually sold it to a large public company called Terex back in 2016 and Ragnarsson had a non-compete there for many years,” explains Eskeland, who knew that Ragnarsson’s plan was always to get back into the market when the non-compete expired.

After years of corporate ownership, Eskeland noticed the market was ready for his return. “Over the years, all of our legacy customers that we sold these really high-quality machines to have been knocking on our door, saying, ‘When are you guys going to get back into the grinder market? We want something better than what they’re making now.’”

Naturally, Ragnarsson had been working on something, but rather than launching this equipment for himself, it was purchased by Tiger Cat, a world-class Canadian manufacturer of large forestry equipment. “So, he designed the CBI grinder and now Tiger Cat’s,” says Eskeland, which meant that Ragnarsson’s designs had a corner on the market. Of course, he didn’t stop there.

In 2019, the time had come for Ragnarsson to relaunch his own venture, which is how RagnarTech, Inc. came to be. Built upon that same quality, service, and innovation that the market came to expect, and supported by the industry’s best, he was going to pull it off on a smaller scale both in terms of the equipment and the operation.

Outperforming in every way
From its 25,000-square-foot facility in New Hampshire, RagnarTech supports operators around the globe who prioritize quality engineering and high-performance equipment that is built to last, minimizing downtime and optimizing throughput.

Just as Ragnarsson’s return to the market created a buzz among former customers, the same reaction took place among former employees of his, like Eskeland, who joined him at CBI in 2003 right out of high school, as well as the engineering manager and production manager who rejoined him at RagnarTech and re-formed the core of a quality team.

“We’ve all worked together for so many years, and we just know how to do things. You can make an argument that we have here the most experienced personnel in the grinding world, and it shows in our innovation,” says Eskeland, who assures us that when you call RagnarTech, you will speak to someone who knows what they are talking about when it comes to the company’s manufacturer-direct support.

Together, they “went back to building quality grinders again,” reengineering the designs using only the highest quality inputs like high-pressure plate from Scandinavia and the John Deere JD18, which Eskeland refers to as a “game changer.” For the better part of the previous two decades, Caterpillar’s diesel engine had been the standard, and while it is still available, RagnarTech and its customers have demonstrated the reason for the departure.

“We were building machines from 700 to 1200 horsepower, and there were basically three engine models that covered that horsepower range, and it was only ever Cat. However, with our new machines, the 9700 and 9400, John Deere came out with a new 18-liter 908-horsepower engine that has no DEF, EGR, or DPF while still meeting Tier 4 standards,” says Eskeland.

The ability of John Deere’s inline six, an 18-liter, 908-horsepower engine, to compete with Caterpillar’s C27, a 1050-horsepower V12, is a surprise to many, but what is most significant is the price tag, which is significantly less costly.

Eye-opening quality
A client who took delivery of a RagnarTech grinder early this summer quickly identified the performance advantages and cost savings associated with its operation compared to the legacy equipment they were running.

“They’ve got about 1000 hours on it, but in the first one or two months of running it, they got numbers that blew us away,” Eskeland shares. Not only was the new John Deere engine outperforming their other grinders with 1050 horsepower; the client was achieving eight-to-ten-minute trailer loads, saving two minutes on average.

Beyond performance, the equipment burns less fuel, using only 28 gallons of fuel compared to the previous 52-gallon amounts, for impressive cost savings and tangible environmental benefits. Additionally, not needing DEF, DPF, and EGRs results in lower overall maintenance costs.

“The numbers have blown them away… I won’t get into the design much, but it’s not just the engine—with our improved feeding system, it feeds more aggressively, which we attribute to better production than higher horsepower machines,” Eskeland says.

According to customer-reported data, even the components of the equipment are holding up better than the competition. The tips, which are used to grind down the material, performed for 350 hours before needing replacement, compared to 80 hours from competitors’ tip sets in comparable material.

One of the biggest industry challenges that Eskeland has experienced over his time in the sector is persistent quality issues due to premature part wear. Certainly, price is important, but when cost savings of this magnitude are being achieved, the upfront costs of quality are negligible. “It’s a little bit more expensive, but you know what? When you’re in the woods on a pipeline where you’re grinding for a billion or multi-billion dollar energy company that needs right-away work, when that machine goes down, saving a few bucks because you wanted to buy something where the steel wasn’t quite as good, that cost difference doesn’t matter at that point.”

The philosophy at RagnarTech is to “engineer in the quality,” and not apologize for being a little bit more expensive because the value of the equipment’s performance speaks for itself.

Only the beginning
With experience, expertise, and a culture of innovation that starts at the top and permeates the ranks, RagnarTech has only just begun making its impact on the market.

As it grows slowly and steadily, in both size and capacity, through the addition of strategically located parts and service hubs and a vetted distribution network, the company will continue to take on as much work as it can, though demand is likely to outpace supply for a while, especially as word has it that Ragnarsson once again has a springboard for his creativity and innovation.

“Not only does he know the equipment, but he is intimately involved in the industry and what people are doing and how they’re doing it and why they’re doing it—and that’s what really drives the innovation,” says Eskeland. “He’s made quite an impact on not only the wood processing industry but the recycling world. There aren’t a lot of people who’ve been owners or know anything about wood grinding that don’t know the name Anders Ragnarsson.”

The post Quality, Innovation, and a Runaway Reputation<p class="company">RagnarTech</p> appeared first on Construction In Focus.

Designed and manufactured in Europe, alkus^® launched in North America in 2017, where it continues to be adopted by progressive construction professionals that appreciate the company’s value and performance. As Kenneth Clisso, Business Development Manager for North America, puts it, “I’ve been in the concrete forming business for about 40 years now and this is the best product I’ve ever had to sell.”

The alkus^® difference
alkus^® Innovative Systems come in two varieties: the AL, which is constructed with aluminum-reinforced polypropylene and is used for wall, slab, and special structural elements; and the GM, which is the company’s first iteration made from fiber-reinforced polypropylene.

Thanks to their material composition, alkus^® solutions have effectively replaced traditional wood formwork and eliminated the many challenges, issues, and rework that can result from its use. Unlike their wood counterparts, the polypropylene panels are impervious to swelling, rotting, and the frequent need to replace or repair, which is time and labor intensive and drives up overall costs.

alkus^® panels have been proven to last 1,500 uses and over 20 years thanks to their innovative design, their unique system of repair, and the seven-year warranty they are backed by, unmatched in the industry. However, in an industry that is typically slow to change, highly innovative products that shake the very foundation of how things are done often face resistance. But between the technical performance of the panels and the financial breakdown and sustainable nature of the formwork, their use becomes an offer that people simply cannot refuse.

“Initially there is some resistance because of price—and it’s not just our price, but the price of anything that’s innovative and anything that is a long-term solution that lowers costs in the long run,” says Clisso, noting that while initial costs are greater, over a 10-year timeframe, there are significant savings to be had.

Plywood needs to be replaced often (certainly more than once every 20 years), and with trade disputes festering around the world and the challenges related to softwood lumber, prices aren’t likely to come down anytime soon. There is also the issue of disposal fees cropping up in places like California where charges are incurred for things like heavy laden plywood, as well as the time and labor costs associated with transportation and disposal.

This is a non-issue for alkus^® as the product holds value on construction sites beyond their use as formwork, instead being repurposed as mudsills and shoring supports, which extends the life and value of the product.

The company’s European footprint has also been designed to be circular in nature. As Matthew Pescador, CEO, alkus North America, explains, “They’re actually recycling nearly 100 percent of the material. They take all the polypropylene, they’re able to separate it, and they regranulate it and feed it right back into the extrusion process. The aluminum gets bagged up and they send it to an aluminum recycling facility, and they actually get paid money for sending it back,” he shares.

“So the idea becomes, ‘How do we implement this worldwide?’ because green construction is the way of the future. There are limited resources in the world, and we have to be good stewards of the natural resources that are out there, so this is something we are looking to implement in the United States.”

A new path forward
Further to implementing a recycling plan in the U.S., there are also plans in the works to establish domestic manufacturing over the next several years to ensure that demand can be sustained and product can more efficiently reach the market, which is an important next step as the brand gains traction all over the world.

“Green is really the direction that construction is going in. That’s why a lot of these really big mega projects have to be LEED and otherwise certified; [project owners and builders] realize the implications for the long term,” says Pescador.

In Switzerland, green construction materials are mandated on projects, with non-renewables like plywood formwork outlawed, which is demonstrative of the progressive stance of the country’s construction industry to operate sustainably.

Governments in North America have the same opportunity before them to make legislative changes that support the future sustainability of the sector. Organizations like the ACI (American Concrete Institute) can be the voice of the industry in pushing for changes that could have a resounding impact on the quality of projects and the mitigation of environmental impacts. And while many early adopters and progressive partners have already made the switch to alkus^® solutions, writing them into project specs on countless projects, others can begin to follow suit.

For Pescador, the market potential is massive and alkus^® only needs to capitalize on a fraction of it to feel the impact—not only on the company itself, but on the customers who use its solutions to improve the technical performance and sustainability of their projects.

A winning solution
The team at alkus^® (and anyone who has used the product) knows that this formwork solution is second to none, and the company is working hard to ensure that the greatest number of construction professionals have access to it.

In addition to investing in the company’s production capacity, alkus^® has also added talent to cover a greater service area in the North American market with the addition of a new Business Development Manager for the south who Clisso has spent time training.

“They are being trained by Ken to capitalize on all the industrial work that’s going on there right now,” says Pescador. “That’s why we’re making the investment to hire, because we see that the demand is out there.”

Numbers don’t lie and when it comes to alkus^® solutions, the value embodied in the product and its performance is unequalled in the market. This is why it is the way of the future and the preferred formwork solution of many industry leaders around the world. To learn more about how alkus^® can save you money and improve the performance of your formwork, visit: www.alkus.com.

The post The Global Leader in High Performance Formwork<p class="company">alkus®</p> appeared first on Construction In Focus.

“While we continue to offer the core services that built our reputation—roofing, windows, siding, and decks—we’ve expanded our capabilities to include large-scale additions, complete home remodels, and ground-up new construction projects. Now, 25 years later, this expertise is highly sought after by a growing customer base who want only the best leading their construction projects.”

This is how Advanced Construction has grown from a small team to become a network of over 40 skilled contractors and administrators, more than 60 trusted subcontractors, and more than 4,700 satisfied customers in Southeastern Connecticut and across the United States. Licensed in four states, there is no limit to where this company will go to bring value to its customers.

While Preka and his team got their start in residential renovations and remodeling, their attention to detail, strong communication style, and meticulous craftsmanship earned Advanced Construction a reputation as a partner of choice for projects of varying complexity. Now, as experts in full-scale new construction, large commercial projects, and transformative remodeling ventures—including historic preservation and restoration and projects to improve resilience against the harsh New England climate—Advanced Construction has the knowledge and capacity to bring commercial and residential projects to life.

A one-stop shop
The team’s expertise runs the gamut from coastal and historical projects to commercial projects and site work, modular homes and buildings, a plethora of residential services including additions and garages, kitchens and baths, outdoor living, roofing and siding, windows and doors, and complete, end-to-end design to build services.

Part of Advanced Construction’s success is its ability to offer a la carte service that identifies the unique characteristics of each property and project to develop a specialized solution for its clients. “A one-stop shop is what people really do look for,” says Preka. “You have to deliver on that diversity. We bring a ton of knowledge to any project and oftentimes we don’t just show up for a job; we show up with knowledge and give people an education as to what they’re looking for.”

This education has not just been to the advantage of its customers, but also to the Advanced Construction team. When asked what sets the company apart from competitors in the market, Preka tells us, “Learn from your failure. Customer service goes a long way and the biggest thing in our line of work is that we need to understand our clients and we need to provide our clients with realistic timeframes and the service and quality they are dreaming about—or at least as close as anybody could possibly do.” He credits the Advanced Construction team with making this a reality time and again.

With these principles in mind, relationships are one of the most important things that Advanced Construction builds. Preka and his team appreciate the unique character of the projects they undertake, but even more so, the people they meet along the way. It is always a challenge to pick a favorite project, especially with 25 years of examples to choose from, but the people make projects truly unforgettable.

For Preka, “I don’t normally focus on the project as much as I focus on the people—the clients, the atmosphere around them, the time [we spend] with them. It makes any project go so fast, so well, so enjoyably.”

Curating quality and building community
Building relationships is not only important from a customer service perspective, but also from a talent acquisition and development standpoint, which is another area in which Advanced Construction thrives. To reinforce a culture of quality, safety, and service, hiring is done very intentionally, with careful attention paid to the person, their skills, as well as the personality and the energy they bring to the team.

“I just feel blessed with the team that we have,” says Preka, once again praising the people who drive value for his customers day in and day out and reinforce the reputation the company has come to earn. “At the end of the day, it’s about a good relationship, a good marriage, a good family dinner table, a good understanding in the good days and the bad days,” which goes a long way to creating a culture of understanding and the drive to push forward to meet and exceed expectations.

Through the work that it does, Advanced Construction is both literally and figuratively building community. In addition to the craftsmanship the company brings to its projects, it has also become a philanthropic champion in the communities it calls home. From early on, Preka felt blessed with an opportunity and used that ability to do good; like the old adage goes, ‘when you are blessed, be a blessing,’ which is exactly what he has done through Advanced Construction.

From financial contributions to in-kind donations, as well as serving as Past President and Chair of the Home Builders and Remodelers Association in Connecticut—a trade organization that represents the residential construction industry in the state—and now as the state representative for the organization, there are countless ways that Preka and Advanced Construction give back to their community.

To 25 more
With 25 years behind it, Advanced Construction has evolved with the ebbs and flows of the market and as the market is returning to strength in the post-pandemic period, the company is poised to take advantage of growth in demand.

“A lot of things have changed in the past 24 months,” Preka shares. “We had a hard time locking in trades, let alone employees. That was nearly impossible [for a time], but nowadays I think that the dust has settled a little bit and homeowners have choices. Now we’re dealing with the better and the best, so the competition is legit competition in that sense,” he adds, which is a “big factor at this point that makes us very strong in our market.”

The goal is to leverage this market position to continue to grow not only the company, but also its ability to effect positive change in the community, which remains top of mind for Preka and his team.

“It’s one of the biggest things, from the first day that I started this business,” he says. “I would like to be known not just as someone that has been there for the community, not just someone that has been there for the people in need, but as a real builder, a real supporter. So, what I’m looking forward to is to expand the team, expand the company larger than we are so more people can benefit from our craftsmanship and our customer service,” he says, with the goal of maximizing both the potential of the company and its ability to give back to the community for many years to come.

The post Where Quality is Built<p class="company">Advanced Construction</p> appeared first on Construction In Focus.

Such changes, when it comes to kitchens, can be slow to come about, as kitchens also happen to be one of the most expensive rooms in the home to renovate. Rife with complex design and construction challenges, high costs of materials and appliances, and the various specialized trades that are involved in the project, kitchen projects can represent a substantial investment but can add a great deal of value to a home, especially when they are done right.

This year, the kitchen design trends on the horizon not only impact how the space looks, but also how it functions. Whether budgets are tight or unlimited, homeowners can take advantage of these hot new trends to create a space that authentically suits them and makes their house feel even more like a home.

Out with the old
One of the biggest trends in kitchen design and redesign is a deviation from the accepted standard. Gone are the days of sterile spaces soaked in white and grey, instead favouring personalization and bespoke designs that take their cues from nature, incorporate advanced technology, and leverage colours and textures to create warmer and more inviting spaces that blend function and design.

Floor plans are being optimized to ensure the workflow and comfort of the space are maximized, and whether that includes whipping up a delightful meal or sharing a snack over homework on the kitchen island—the focal point of many kitchens—greater efforts are being made to make kitchens a room the whole family can enjoy.

Be it minimalist designs with natural elements or the incorporation of colours and textures from the mid-century modern period, it is time for unique concepts and personal preferences in kitchen design to shine. Kitchen design is taking on the personality of the homeowners in a bigger way, and colour is back with a vengeance, with choices ranging from warm earth tones to bold pops of colour (think bright yellow, rich reds and burgundies, warm browns, and earthy greens).

Texture is another big part of the aesthetic as statement backsplashes, soft metals, and natural materials like wood and stone are being incorporated, as well as carefully placed windows that bring natural light and the outdoors in. There is also a move to conceal the more functional elements for a streamlined design. Built-in appliances tucked away by flush cabinetry and appliance garages that sneakily keep appliances out of sight but still at a homeowner’s fingertips are creating a cohesive, yet covert aesthetic.

Appliances might be hidden away, but these spaces are being better illuminated thanks to under-cabinet lighting and open shelving, while most homeowners are doing away with built-in desks, freeing up valuable real estate.

Other trends that are dominating the market this year are the move away from oversized pendant lights, faux features, distressed, bold or ornate cabinetry, and overly themed kitchens (so, for those of you who have yet to make the transition, it’s time to say goodbye to those roosters and cows in favour of cleaner lines and modern, open spaces).

Teched-out spaces
In 2025, it’s not just about how kitchens look, but also how they function, and most projects include some form of technological integration which is being fueled by the rapid pace of technological advancement.

If the kitchen is the heart of the home, technology has become the lifeblood that keeps the arteries functioning (and the rest of the family, too), which is why smart kitchens are no longer the exception but rather the standard. Appliances, for instance, have long added value to a kitchen both from a financial and utility perspective, but with the accelerated pace of technological development, the tasks that these appliances undertake are becoming more complex.

Be it Internet of Things (IoT)-enabled appliances like an oven that can be set and activated from your smartphone, voice-activated faucets, kitchen management tools like inventory apps, intelligent lighting, automated cooking systems, or kitchen robots that help to take the guess work out of cooking, smart appliances are all the rage. It is amazing how far technology has come and how it can be utilized in the kitchen.

Many of these technologies are voice assistant-enabled, which is becoming increasingly common in homes thanks to devices like Google Home and Alexa, but instead of finding out the weather or the best recipe for a spaghetti Bolognese, integrated technology is doing a lot more for homeowners, including managing digital calendars, reminding them of important dates and now, even taking over some of the manual tasks in the kitchen.

Further to gadgets and the many other tech-enabled appliances that have been installed, there needs to be a place for these appliances and the family’s devices to charge up, so designated charging stations are also being considered as part of kitchen remodels and redesigns.

Budget-friendly ideas
Of course, like everything in life, budgets will have an impact on what can be achieved during a kitchen project. While some people can afford to gut the kitchen and start fresh, there are others who are looking to get the most bang for their buck, which means small incremental changes that will help satisfy the need for change.

There are many ways that homeowners can refresh their space without breaking the bank. Simple changes like swapping out hardware or lighting or changing the paint colour can go a long way to upgrade what is already there. Some homeowners can opt to paint their cabinetry to get a little more life out of it, and just like technology, paint performance has come a long way over the years, offering a durable and lasting alternative to complete cabinet replacement.

For those who are seeking to make a small kitchen look larger through design, consider light colours, open shelving, and natural light to maximize the space. Large format tiles are another nice touch that will help achieve the desired outcome. Where size is not a concern, bigger pantries and islands with more storage can be installed to maximize concealed space.

The best part of the trends this year, however, is the move toward personalization in kitchen spaces both in terms of design and function. The kitchen has become a blank canvas for homeowners’ personalities and preferences, which is bringing new inspiration to spaces and to the market. We can’t wait to see what else is cooking.

The post Breathing New Life into the Heart of the Home<p class="company">Kitchen Trends for the Year to Come</p> appeared first on Construction In Focus.

Well-planned and well-executed transit systems not only contribute to reduced congestion, lower carbon emissions, and safer roadways—which improves the livability of a community—they also have the power to promote social equity through enhanced mobility and independence by connecting people to centres of employment, education, healthcare, retail, and social outlets.

This is particularly impactful for individuals on lower or fixed incomes, seniors, people with disabilities, and youth who do not have access to their own modes of transportation and rely on transit for its lower costs and accessibility.

Measuring (and meeting) demand
Public transportation systems are only as good as their performance, and as a public good, public transit best serves a community when its routes and service are optimized. This begins with understanding demand, something that varies greatly from community to community. The transportation needs of a highly populated urban centre are far greater than those of a rural community, but the value of transit and the role that it serves is the same.

According to StatCan, in April 2025, urban transit ridership in Canada totalled 132.5 million trips, figures that continue to grow year over year, which is why the Canadian government is taking action to invest heavily in public transportation improvements over the next decade to ensure that necessary maintenance, upgrades, and expansions are possible to elevate service levels as demand grows.

Further to investments in new infrastructure and the maintenance of existing assets to ensure service is reliable, safe, and affordable, technology is necessary for the optimization and integration of service across local and regional transit systems and modalities to promote stronger connectivity and improved user comfort and experience.

Tech-enabled optimization
Taking a whole-network and whole-city approach is an effective transit-oriented approach to development that emphasizes intermodality and integration to achieve results. The only way this can be achieved is through the use of technology which enables the collection of valuable data sets that can inform the decision-making process. Considerations can include current travel behaviours such as patterns and preferences—distances and times traveled, routes, modes, costs, and reasons for travel—to determine how to design the most attractive public transit system.

There are several technologies that can be leveraged to optimize the costs, performance, and sustainability of transit systems. From sensors and GPS-connected vehicles to automatic fare collection systems and smart stations equipped with Wi-Fi-enabled real-time information about arrivals and departures, the advent of smart public transportation infrastructure has greatly empowered community planners who can use this valuable data to optimize routes and the user experience.

This technology affords city planners a certain degree of flexibility to adapt to incidents and delays more effectively. As passenger flows change, planners can use technology and data sets to audit service delivery and identify changes in patterns and behaviours to better predict and sustain demand and optimizing resource allocation.

Technology also supports the user experience. User-friendly apps promote seamless ticketing and payment, as well as new data streams from which information can be gathered and analysed. And programs like PRESTO, an electronic fare payment system that offers integrated ticketing at discounted prices across the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA), the Ottawa area, and other municipalities, promote convenient local and regional travel.

Working together for greater connectivity
To better integrate the various transportation modalities, governments and employers are working closely with private sector partners to address gaps in service and improve the connectivity that keeps the community and economy running. One example is Hop In Technologies, a provider of optimized employee shuttle solutions that leverages data-driven insights with logistics to design seamless shuttle experiences that address gaps in transportation networks to ensure that employees get to work on time without a stressful commute. As the company’s website states, “We pick up where transit drops off,” with designated pick-up locations, personalized ride schedules, live shuttle tracking, and advanced ticketing systems.

The stronger the network, the greater the outcomes. The movement of people and goods is not only tantamount to a well-functioning economy by connecting people to jobs, services, and amenities; it reduces social isolation, promotes stronger civic engagement, reduces congestion and carbon emissions, and improves the overall quality of life a community enjoys.

Transit-oriented developments are becoming increasingly common in urban community development. By understanding the flow of people and goods in relation to employment, education, healthcare, retail, and other service hubs in the community, decision makers can encourage developments that maximize land use along major transit corridors to sustain and optimize growth.

The move toward 15-minute cities is an example of a comprehensive whole-city approach to planning, where the flow of public transit is reflective of a neighbourhood’s behaviours to ensure that businesses and services are proximate, convenient, and accessible to residents.

A comprehensive approach to development
By understanding the existing quality of service and usage patterns of transportation systems, planning officials can better devise strategies that improve and expand service where needed, which promotes optimal expenditures of time and money while elevating service provision in an impactful way. Transportation officials must also have a strong understanding of the spatial distribution of land, the location of the transportation infrastructure relative to services and amenities, and the traffic flows to and from these hubs which include employment centres, educational institutions, healthcare centres, and commercial areas. There must be dedicated road space and land, as well as funding to maintain and upgrade existing infrastructure where needed. Dedicated lanes for public transit and non-motorized modes of transportation, including cycling lanes and pedestrian trails, can further strengthen the connectivity and viability of these systems and support sustainability goals.

Spain has long been a leader in the provision of public transportation and is once again demonstrating why this is the case. As Paige Bennett of EcoWatch reports, Barcelona is taking sustainability to the next level through the MetroCHARGE project, which leverages regenerative braking to power trains and station amenities like EV chargers. Energy inverters installed on the city’s metro network convert kinetic energy from the braking trains into electricity that can be captured and redistributed. A third of the regenerative power is used to run the trains, while the rest can be used in other ways.

Investments like these are the mark of a healthy community and would not be possible without advanced technologies and forward-thinking leadership that understands the implications of strong transportation infrastructure on a community.

Having well-integrated local and regional transportation systems helps to improve quality of life for individuals, the livability of a community, and the strength of the economy—but it also helps to drive sustainable growth for the long-term, which should be a goal of every development-oriented community going forward.

The post Driving the Future<p class="company">Building Smarter Public Transportation Systems</p> appeared first on Construction In Focus.

True to its name, New England Foundation Company (NEFCO) Geotechnical Contractors is rooted in the very market it serves. Drawing on deep technical expertise and decades of regional experience, the company is uniquely positioned to navigate the area’s distinct climate, soil conditions, and construction challenges, delivering reliable solutions that build confidence from the ground up.

As President Deirdre O’Neill explains, “Outside maybe a 15 or 20 mile radius from Boston, you commonly have glacial till or rock close to the surface, and shallow footings bearing directly on those competent materials can support a reasonably large building. Once you come into the basin of Boston, ground conditions completely change. And then on top of that, you can be confronted with environmental issues and the potential cost of removing contaminated soil, et cetera.” This is why having a geotechnical engineer/contractor like O’Neill involved in projects to help optimize the foundation selection can be so critical.

NEFCO’s multi-generational expertise is second to none. A lean and focused operation, the company is large enough that it has the capacity to take on projects of grand scale, size, and complexity—and this team, with its highly skilled and dedicated field crews, is always up for a challenge.

Building a reputation
New England Foundation Company has been serving the region as a drilling company for more than a hundred years, but it was in 1985 when Eric O’Neill took over that the company flourished, thanks to his unmatched reputation as an engineer and his pioneering ability to introduce new ideas and applications to advance the deep foundation construction industry.

At 60 years of age, Eric O’Neill jumped in with two feet. From going to Italy to acquire a custom-designed, low-headroom rig that enabled drilling underneath the highway, to the design and manufacture of more agile pressure injected footings (PIF) rigs, he substantially broadened the scope of NEFCO’s products, vastly enhancing the potential solutions to foundation problems. Prior to and after acquiring NEFCO, Eric had been on the frontlines of effecting change in the way work was done in the region, a legacy that is upheld to this day by his daughter Deirdre, the rest of the NEFCO team, and, more recently, his son Brian.

“He had such enthusiasm for doing the work that nothing about the whole situation daunted him at all,” says Deirdre. “He just powered forth. He figured out the design, he figured out the equipment, he figured out the people, and he made the world move because he saw what was coming at the time with the Big Dig [in Boston]. He saw that we needed to grow to get to the size where we could actually get involved at that level.”

One job at a time, completing them on time and on (or below) budget, often working with congested, sometimes precarious, site logistics, with the foremost commitment to safety, quality, and service, NEFCO’s reputation continued to grow, as did its portfolio and reputation—which enabled it to secure high-profile jobs, just as Eric O’Neill intended.

Piling it on
When it comes to respecting project construction schedules, NEFCO Geotechnical Contractors brings energy, equipment, and technical expertise, which is why its portfolio is full of high-profile projects such as the seating expansion project at Fenway Park’s famed Green Monster. Home to the Boston Red Sox, this was a drilled micro pile (DMP) project that pushed the limits, bending time as it were, to meet a hard deadline.

NEFCO field crews worked 12 hours a day, seven days a week with three drill rigs to get the job done in an extremely short timeline, during less than ideal, frigid temperatures and weather—especially for a water-based operation—but they got the job done ahead of schedule.

“They decided on the final design somewhere at the end of January, beginning of February, and it had to be ready for opening day (early April), which meant the DMP needed to be complete in four weeks to give time for construction of the rest of the structure,” Deirdre recalls. “That was the dark side of Fenway. After 10 o’clock in the morning you were in shadow from the Green Monster, and the wind would just tear up the place. It was cold and that’s a water-based operation; there was water and then ice everywhere. It was a nightmare, but we got it done.”

The project entailed the installation of 140 drilled mini piles that supported 25 columns carrying the weight of the steel frame superstructure. “We got it done, and the NEFCO team, along with the other subcontractors involved in the construction, were also the first people to sit in the Green Monster seats. It was supposed to be the Mayor, but that opening day game got rained out so it was all ours the next day—it was awesome,” Deirdre shares.

One would think that iconic projects like these would be few and far between, but the reality is, NEFCO Geotechnical Contractors doesn’t back down from a challenge, which means it has some very impressive projects under its belt.

NEFCO applied its value engineering technical expertise to identify a secant pile wall as the optimal support of excavation solution to protect an existing, early-1900s, brick and masonry building. The project was on Martha’s Vineyard, which Deirdre jokes was “probably one of the closest projects that was somehow the farthest away,” given the lengths the team had to go to reach the work site. With a rented barge and a hope and a prayer, NEFCO got the 180,000-pound drill rig and a crane of equal weight to the project, drilled the secant piles and soldier piles, and installed the timber lagging, all of which prevented settlement of the old building on its sand dune while a new basement was dug right beside it. The old building is still standing but today is next to a brand new addition, owing to the team’s expertise and commitment to devising the best possible solution to meet the client’s needs.

As another example of the company’s value engineering capabilities, Deirdre tells us about a client who reached out for assistance because “they were in a situation where there was a certain budget and the cost of the building was substantially over that budget, so we came in, worked with the design team to understand the building loads and soil profile, and made a recommendation for a foundation using the PIF in an innovative way that, at the end of the day, was significantly less than the original cost of the foundation as previously designed.”

This unconventional solution got the job done within the owner’s budget and proved to be another instance where Deirdre’s expertise set the tone for the project. As Vice President Brian O’Neill explains, “Some of these contractors and owners just reach out to Deirdre directly now because they know that she’s going to come up with the best design at the lowest cost.”

“If you give me a call and tell me what the parameters are, I can work with your engineers to find out exactly what loads are being applied and where, match them with the ground conditions and specific aspects of construction, and verify that all the design team’s concerns are being addressed,” says Deirdre of the back-and-forth that ensues while she works to identify the best possible solution for the project conditions.

A legacy in action
Under the leadership of the O’Neill family, NEFCO Geotechnical Contractors has become a one-stop shop, equipped with the specialized knowledge of a variety of disciplines to design the optimal solution for any project’s complexities and specifications. With an array of products including Pressure Injected Footings (PIFs), drilled micro piles, drilled shafts of various sizes, belled caissons, soldier pile and lagging walls, secant pile walls, and more, the team at NEFCO can isolate what will address a client’s needs in the most efficient and cost-effective way.

Like their father before them, Brian credits his sister’s work ethic and the intimate role she plays on all projects. “She’s deeply involved in so many aspects of a particular job,” he says. “This enables a level of creativity that can oftentimes change the way the designers or the geotechnical engineers or the owner or her clients will look at a job; often, Deirdre and her experienced field personnel come up with a solution that is significantly different from what they had originally imagined they were going to do, and often that ends up being significantly cheaper.”

This depth of engineering knowledge and the ability of our dedicated, expert field crews to execute time and again regardless of “bad ground, bad weather, or bad luck,” is why NEFCO does “big work in a small, familial sort of way,” says Deirdre. “We roll with the punches,” she says, a sentiment that is echoed by Brian.

As such, the company has not only strengthened its reputation in the New England market; it has fostered the development of a culture of excellence, a culture of safety, and a culture of pride in a job well done and the legacy each project represents. Its performance speaks for itself.

The O’Neills tell us that when renewing their insurance this year, the agent said that they have never seen a company be claim-free for five years straight. This is because each year, the team is trained in rigging, fall protection, crane signaling, First Aid, CPR, and other safety efforts to ensure that this trend continues. “Our guys just do it the right way… just do it right and make safety the most important thing on a job site,” Deirdre says of NEFCO’s commitment to safety and quality.

Digging deep
The best indicator of success is demand, and that is certainly the case for NEFCO Geotechnical Contractors. The company is extremely busy, and for good reason. Speaking with Deirdre and Brian, you quickly get a sense that the expertise and experience across the board of NEFCO personnel is so deeply rooted that it is second nature.

Together with the rest of the NEFCO team, the O’Neills are working to not only grow the company but to advance the industry in terms of what is possible, believing that each project is an opportunity to level up. The company aims to elevate value engineering through enhancements and the utilization of foundation elements to not only support projects’ physical weight of but also their sustainability goals.

“I’d like to move forward on the use of foundation elements for sustainability initiatives like geothermal technologies, a whole different avenue that I would like us to focus on,” Deirdre tells us. “Every time I see a massive cast-in-place concrete thing going into the ground, I just think, ‘that could be equipped, connected to a system, and you could be getting some energy out of it.’ That’s the goal,” says Deirdre, who continues to tirelessly help clients get the very most out of their projects, spending less and achieving more through value engineering and the specialized expertise of NEFCO Geotechnical Contractors.

The post Family Is the Foundation of Success<p class="company">NEFCO Geotechnical Contractors </p> appeared first on Construction In Focus.

“We put God’s love into action by bringing people together to build homes, communities, and hope,” explains Chief Executive Officer of Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity, Brian Sonderman.

For more than 40 years, Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity has brought people and resources together for the common good. Through its builds, its Critical Home Repair (CHR) program, and its ReStore operation, it continues to facilitate change by supporting affordable homeownership projects that are transformative on every level.

Building homes and community
More than providing a safe and adequate place to call home, Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity breaks down barriers for first time homeowners earning below the median income ($47,590 in Wisconsin as of the most recent figures), while supporting those who require critical home repairs to preserve homeownership.

The organization was founded in 1984 by 12 visionaries from the faith community who sought to solve some of the bigger problems that were plaguing the community at the time, chiefly poverty and inequality in Milwaukee’s near north side neighborhoods that were chronically underserviced.

“They didn’t go to the easiest areas to build,” Sonderman explains. “They went to some of the hardest places because they were the most underserved and where people had, in many regards, been left behind. We really stand on the shoulders of that group and continue to honor that legacy by pressing forward and trying to do more,” he says.

To date, the organization has helped over 1,500 families empowering them with a hand up, not a handout, made possible by a dedicated staff and hundreds of skilled volunteers affectionately referred to as “Habituals” who come together at build sites, warehouse facilities, and ReStore locations to help build community. “Habituals contribute upwards of 40,000 hours on the build site and over 20,000 at our ReStores,” explains Al Smith, Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity’s Chief Operating Officer, of the contributions of the team.

This team also includes some very generous corporate sponsors. Sargento and Komatsu have each sponsored and built 41 homes in the city, while Milwaukee Tool has donated over $600,000 in tools and batteries that are imperative to the builds.

The Brewers Community Foundation sponsors a home each year and its players chip in on the build site each spring as the build season is kicked off, which is an especially exciting time of year.

The builds are further supported by A. O. Smith, which supplies water heaters; Johnson Controls, which contributes furnaces and air conditioners; Kohler-supplied faucets, toilets, and sinks; and Whirlpool appliances, the latter of which is a global partner committed to equipping homes at build sites around the world.

Coming together for change
For 40 years, Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity has worked tirelessly to combat inequity through the provision of affordable homeownership, a mission that has only gained importance over time. As it stands, North America is facing a deepening housing crisis, making the work of the organization ever more valuable. Since 1990, home prices in the U.S. have increased six times faster than income, and as Smith notes, “There is a critical shortage of affordable housing that we see, especially for families earning anywhere between 30 to 80 percent of AMI in terms of their income.”

In Milwaukee, one in three renters are spending half or more of their monthly income on housing, as the average cost to rent is $1,800 a month—while the average mortgage is $2,300 if you own your own home. The figures are even more daunting when race is considered.

As Sonderman explains, “In the city of Milwaukee proper, the proportions between white families and African American families that own the home that they live in is about 50 percent and 25 percent respectively. In the Milwaukee Metro Area, the gap is 50 percent: 75 percent of white families own the home they live in, while only 25 percent of African American families do, which is the second largest gap in the United States.”

Habitat for Humanity addresses many of the barriers to homeownership through the creation of affordable pathways for first-time home buyers and the creation of new housing opportunities to renew the aging housing stock in the city. A Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity homeowner, for instance, is paying only $950 monthly to own their own home and they get the opportunity to have a hand in building it themselves, alongside a community of volunteers that are unified in their efforts to make life more affordable and rewarding for the communities of which they are a part.

Transformational work
Indeed, volunteerism is a key part of the organization’s success. From build sites to ReStores, volunteers are the lifeblood of the organization and power the wheels of change. And they too, see benefits from the dedication of their time and effort. The experience is transformative for staff, volunteers, homeowners and their families, and for the communities that receive this love, demonstrating the power of a helping hand and the impact of a caring heart.

“That changes people from the inside out,” says Sonderman of the work the organization does. “One of the best parts of the work that I do is I sign the satisfaction of mortgages each month when people have paid off their mortgagee, because what that tells the homeowner when they get that document is ‘I’ve paid it in full and I own this; it’s mine and I can pass this on to the next generation.’ The pride in those homeowners—in what homeownership has done and the generational change that has occurred—is really remarkable,” he continues, noting that health outcomes improve, educational outcomes improve, and a ripple effect of positive change takes root in the community.

“It is not just shelter; it’s oftentimes the launching point for children to find academic success. It’s oftentimes the launching point for homeowners to form small businesses, to pursue advanced degrees themselves or certifications to advance their own employment opportunities. It is the launching point for neighborhoods and communities.”

Because Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity focuses on clustering its homes, it creates intentional Habitat communities within the larger community that can continue to give back and have a wider impact, which includes global outreach. In addition to its local impact, the organization devotes 10 percent of unrestricted donations to the international Habitat community in El Salvador and Zambia where the work to achieve housing affordability, adequacy, and racial equity continues on a global scale.

Ramping up efforts
Given that demand for affordable housing is at an all-time high, Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity is working closely with several community partners and municipalities to ensure that housing needs are being met and that barriers to homeownership continue to be overcome. This includes building 34 new homes and completing over 100 critical home repairs this year.

As one of the top 30 producing Habitat affiliates in the U.S. for new house production and critical repairs, Sonderman plans to step up the organization’s efforts.

He wants to “meet the moment,” to “step into a place of greater responsibility in terms of helping meet this housing affordability crisis,” he says. “And so our goal is to double in size, which means twice as many volunteers and twice as many funds that need to be raised.”

A tremendous feat to achieve, Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity is up to the task, poised to continue its good work centered on facilitating affordable homeownership and overcoming societal barriers to equality, planting the seeds of change that will have a lasting impact on the communities it serves.

“When homeownership is strong, safety improves, economic stability and opportunity improves,” Sonderman says. “We know how powerful it is, and so it really calls us back to our mission and our vision where everyone has a decent place to live.” This drive fuels the organization to build its capacity to bring affordable homeownership to an even greater number of people in the Milwaukee area and beyond.

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