Posted on By Julie Swartz Categories Current Projects

Creighton Hall Renovation

Creighton University will celebrate its 150th anniversary in 2028. Prairie Construction has begun work on a significant renovation of the campus’ original building – Creighton Hall – in anticipation of this momentous milestone.

The project involves retrofitting the old building with a modern infrastructure, including updated heating and cooling, water, mechanical, and fire suppression. Creighton Hall’s renovation is part of Creighton’s initiative to achieve more sustainable practices across its campus.

The renovation will also include ADA-accessible restrooms, a new gathering space, and offices and meeting spaces,

This phase of the project involves system upgrades to the south wing of the building. The north wing will be upgraded in a future phase.

The building has undergone many changes over the last 146 years, but this project represents the most significant. This is just one of several projects the Prairie Construction team has completed on the Creighton campus, and we are grateful for the continued partnership with the University. The Prairie Construction team expects to complete this project in 2026.

Posted on By Julie Swartz Categories Current Projects

Updates at Elkhorn Ridge Middle School

It’s not unusual for projects to start small, and morph into a much bigger job. That was true for the scheduled addition of a security entrance upgrade at Elkhorn Ridge Middle School.

After further assessment, the decision was made to revitalize the interior of the entrance through multiple architectural and mechanical upgrades. While this extended the initial time for the project, the result was well worth it!

After the upgrades to the interior, the focus turned to the school’s exterior. The change of color gave the school a refreshed, updated appearance. Add a complete roofing system upgrade, and the entire exterior looks newer and more modern.

 

The updates to Elkhorn Ridge Middle School may have been more than originally planned, but the result is a refreshed, updated school that is ready to welcome the future’s brightest minds through the doors in the Fall!

 

Posted on By Julie Swartz Categories Current Projects

Prairie Completes First Splash and Dash

Commercial construction continues to boom in the Omaha metro area.

Prairie Construction recently completed the remodel construction of Omaha’s newest dog grooming business – Splash and Dash, Dog Grooming and Boutique.

 

The project was a remodel of an existing space in a commercial strip mall. Demolition of the space began in December, followed by a complete custom rebuild to fit the needs of this unique business.

 

 

Located at 2517 South 174th Plaza in Lakeside, the store is the first of four planned Splash and Dash franchises in Omaha, and the Prairie Construction team is looking forward to our continued partnership with the family-owned franchises.

Splash and Dash welcomed their first canine customers last week!

 

Posted on By Julie Swartz Categories Company News

News From Prairie Construction

The Prairie Construction team recently got away from the office for a training meeting with our leadership team.

 

Construction is a year-round industry, but in the Midwest, Spring and Summer are definitely our busiest times. Before we got too far into the season, we scheduled time for an off-site staff development to focus on strategic planning and gearing up for the busy second half of the year.

We are grateful for the opportunity to work ON our business, not IN our business, and we feel prepared and excited for the upcoming busy construction season!

Posted on By Julie Swartz Categories Uncategorized

Get Your Home Ready for Early Record Cold

The forecast is calling for record lows, the first hard freeze of the season. It might be catching some of us off guard because we have been enjoying nice days with cool nights.

The Prairie Construction team suggests a few quick things you should do around the house before the temperatures dip below freezing:

  • Make sure all windows, including the storm windows, are closed.
  • Keep your garage door closed to protect any plumbing out there and prevent cold air from entering the home.
  • Disconnect hoses from the exterior and cover the spout with a spigot cover.
  • Replace any missing insulation, especially around exposed pipes.

If you have a sprinkler system for your yard, our friends at Millard Sprinkler recommend you have your sprinkler system drained before the first freeze of the winter.

They share a helpful video for homeowners who haven’t had their system professionally drained.

The forecast has a return to unseasonably warm temperatures by the weekend, but these quick steps will prevent frozen pipes which can cause a lot of damage and are costly to repair.

The Prairie Construction team will share more tips for a thorough winterization of your home soon!

Posted on By Julie Swartz Categories Company News

Westside Golf Project in the News!

It’s not every day your work is featured in a national publication, and we have to admit – it is pretty cool when it happens!

The Swede Center is an indoor golf practice facility located in Westside High School which was recently featured in Golfweek, part of USA Today.  Add to that, it was a really fun project for the Prairie Construction team!

The simulator sits in what was formerly an unusable space behind the gym. It includes putting, chipping and hitting bays, as well as a locker area and players’ lounge. It is used by District 66 students of all ages.

No other high school in the state – and possibly the country – can boast having a nicer, more state-of-the-art indoor golf practice facility like The Swede Canter. And it appears to be paying off as Westside is producing state champion golfers!

The facility was just one of several recent projects that Prairie Construction has collaborated on with Westside Schools, and we look forward to many more!

 

Posted on By Julie Swartz Categories Company News, Industry News

Looking Ahead to 2021!

As we look back on 2020, I think everyone can agree the year didn’t necessarily go the way we planned it!

No one could have predicted a pandemic that would close businesses and put many aspects of our lives on hold the way they were in 2020.

But it’s a new year, and as we look ahead we can revisit plans that were put on hold in the last year. If your plans to remodel, or build a new home or office, stalled in 2020, the Prairie Construction team may be able to help with your plans.

If you are ready to move ahead with your construction needs, the Prairie Construction has some tips to keep in mind to ensure your 2021 project, big or small, is successful:

  • Don’t be afraid to ask a contractor for referrals. Or ask your friends and family for a recommendation.
  • Check with the Better Business Bureau to make sure the company has a solid reputation.
  • Choose a company that has experience with projects similar to yours.
  • Work with a company that has a good understanding of architectural design.
  • Choose a contractor or construction company that will manage your project from start to finish so you don’t need to find subcontractors.

More than anything, trust your instincts. Choosing the right company for your project will make the process successful and enjoyable. Contact the Prairie Construction team to discuss your projects for 2021!

Posted on By Julie Swartz Categories Company News

Prairie Construction Employee Appreciation

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

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

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

Thanks for your commitment to Prairie Construction!

 

Posted on By Julie Swartz Categories Company News

Steve Vencil Celebrates 30 Years!

Prairie Construction recently celebrated the 30th anniversary of one of our first employees – Steve Vencil.

Steve joined the Prairie team as Paul and Frank were just building Prairie Construction. Steve brought his extensive experience as a construction and iron worker, and even a four-year stint as a stockbroker, to the Prairie team. Steve’s expertise in ironworking made him a crucial member of our early team, and he has played a vital role in numerous projects over the years.

Steve is now a trusted project superintendent for a variety of projects. He has managed jobs all over town, and has been a key player on many of the school projects we have completed. The addition of the third base grandstand at Rosenblatt Stadium is one of Steve’s favorite projects. Despite battling significant rain that threatened completion by the deadline – the start of the College World Series. Under Steve’s leadership – we completed the project before deadline!

These days you’ll find Steve at Mahoney State Park. He’s been there since last Fall when we broke ground on the Event Facility Project. Steve finds the quiet peace and rolling acres of the park a nice change of pace from other projects he’s been involved with.

“You don’t find guys like Steve everyday,” said Steve Rease. “He does a great job managing projects onsite, and our crews and subcontractors love working with him, and you always know where you stand with him.”

His experience is invaluable, but it’s his dedication to the team, commitment to quality work and personality that make him irreplaceable.  You always know where you stand with Steve.

“I love working at Prairie Construction, this is a just a great group of hard-working guys,” said Steve. “You don’t see younger guys going into construction like they used too, and that’s too bad because this is a great career!”

Thank you, Steve for 30 years of dedicated service to Prairie Construction!

Posted on By Julie Swartz Categories Company News

Putting the Finishing Touches on our Office Remodel

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

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

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

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

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

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