Build Me Up: The Uniquely Complex ‘Small’ Projects of Construction
When we talk about construction, it’s easy to jump right to the multi-million dollar projects like skyscrapers, multifamily housing, stadiums and event spaces. These multi-phased projects can be complicated and take years to complete. But a lot of the behind-the-scenes in construction involves smaller scale projects, like tenant improvements, renovations, buildouts, maintenance, and more.
While they may be labeled as Small Projects, they are vastly important to the client, and require attention to detail, flexibility, and diligent planning. Kraus-Anderson’s Special Projects team performs over 300 projects a year that are under $500,000. These projects range from installing plexiglass in office spaces for social distancing to emergency response projects that require tight turnarounds. No matter the project, no job is too small or unique.
On the latest episode of KA’s Build Me Up podcast, KA Vice President Doug Jaeger and Senior Project Manager Bob Janssen discuss the smaller projects in construction and the unique challenges and opportunities they bring.
Meet Doug Jaeger and Bob Janssen
Doug Jaeger is a third-generation Kraus-Anderson employee. His grandfather was hired by KA Founder Lloyd Engelsma back in 1947, his father started as a carpenter apprentice in 1950, and Doug has been with KA since 1985, leading KA’s Special Projects division. Bob Janssen has been with Kraus-Anderson since 2013, working on larger-scale civil projects out of KA’s Circle Pines office. Bob had the opportunity to work on a few smaller scale projects along the way, and when KA’s offices consolidated into its Minneapolis headquarters, he took the opportunity to merge into Doug’s Special Projects division. Since then, Doug and Bob have been tackling hundreds of small projects, ranging from emergency response projects, to same-day installations, and everything in between.
Doug and Bob put a major emphasis on maintaining enduring relationships with clients. The Special Projects team is constantly turning over projects, a different environment than more traditional large-scale projects. Whether the team worked on site for one day or a few months, the client relationship is critical and often results in more work down the line. Their philosophy is that no construction project is considered small, since it is always a big deal in the customer’s eyes.
Special Projects
Part of what drives Doug and Bob’s passion for Special Projects is the variety of work they get involved in. One of the most unique projects included removing the crown that sat atop the 33-story CenturyLink building in downtown Minneapolis. The outdated microwave technology was deteriorating and required workers to hand cut the steel pieces of the 80-foot-tall structure, which took around six months to complete. Some projects require elaborate logistics planning, such as an office remodel for Carlson Wagonlit Travel. The team worked early on with the owner to come up with an eight-phase plan that kept their staff working with minimal disruptions in the four-story building. Another challenge involved a two-and-a-half-week remodel to an active infusion space for HealthPartners. The team completed the project with limited disruption and with patient safety a top priority.
Longtime clients sometimes give the Special Projects team a call when they have an emergency, such as building damage from a car accident or natural disaster. Doug once got a call at 2:00 a.m. from a client whose warehouse roof collapsed from a heavy snowfall. Workers were on site by 3:30 a.m. to begin repairing damages. He recalls a Christmas in the 1970s when his father, who was a KA Superintendent at the time, had to rush to a jobsite downtown that had caught fire. Doug has the same client-oriented mindset as his father, sometimes jumping in to carry plywood on last-minute repair jobs. No job is too small.
To learn more about the Special Projects team and the unique projects they tackle, tune in to the latest episode of KA’s Build Me Up podcast. You can subscribe to Build Me Up wherever you listen to podcasts.
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