Core Values

Our company core values are what support the vision, shape the culture and reflect what StructureTec Group values. They are the essence of our company’s identity – our principles and beliefs upon which we shape our work.

There is no better way to get to know StructureTec Group than by familiarizing yourself with our core values and what they mean to us.

·        Integrity: Doing what is ethically and morally right.

·       Quality: Performing at the highest level of excellence.

·       Relationships: Maintaining and developing connections for personal and professional growth and success.

·       Expertise: Investing in tools and resources to maintain a high standard of skills and knowledge.

·       Accountability: fulfilling obligations and accepting responsibility.

Believe it or Not, Spring is Only 15 Days Away

After the winter we’ve had, it’s hard to imagine green grass and flowers. If you’re like me and have forgotten what they look like, you might be taken by surprise when all of this snow finally starts to melt.

To avoid being stuck doing roof maintenance instead of smelling the spring flowers, follow these simple steps to ensure you’re prepared to handle the meltdown.

1.       Clear out the drains.

Be sure water can flow freely to them by removing any ice, snow or debris accumulation near the drains. This is the most basic way to ensure that all of the excess water has a place to go and doesn’t pool on the roof surface causing water damage.  

2.       Remove snow and ice at roof to wall transitions.

Often these transition points are a natural place for water to pool. They’re also often home to seams in your waterproofing materials which could be one of the weaker points in the roof system. Clearing off the ice and snow buildup can help prevent the development of leaks. 

3.       Remove snow and ice at penetrations and curbs.

Similar to number two, this area commonly contains seams that may be more susceptible to water damage. Often these areas are shaded from the sun and can be one of the last places to melt. Clearing the ice and snow will help to speed up the melting process.  

4.       Inspect structural components that might be distorted due to supporting increased load.

Unfortunately the increased load on your roof system can cause damage throughout the long winter months. If that is the case, you’ll want to repair these areas before they become major problems to your facility.

Following these few steps will ensure that you’re ready to handle the melting snow and ice. Just remember to exercise caution when removing snow and ice from your roof so that you do not puncture or tear the membrane; or more importantly endanger yourself.

If winter took its toll on your roof and you’re experiencing leaks, we’re here to help! Construction Services Group, a StructureTec Group Subsidiary, has a 24/7 Emergency Leak team that is equipped to handle those pesky leaks so you can continue with business as usual. 

 

The Art of Competitive Bidding and Negotiation

The practice of obtaining the most competitive pricing for your construction projects is truly an art … and a science. The topic of “The Art of Competitive Bidding and Negotiation” was presented by Nick O’Hare on January 21^st during a live webinar broadcast to facilities professionals across the country.

This presentation focused on best practices for receiving the best price, not necessarily the lowest bid for construction projects. The biggest factor in ensuring best price is having a proper specification as a tool to use during the bidding process. The discussion began by explaining the basic methods of specifying, how to draft a specification, the project manual concept and closed with best practices for bidding.

This was a very timely topic and interest was high. Key questions and discussion from the audience included:

·         What is “pent-up” demand and how is it affecting bidding?

·         How many bidders should be invited to bid a project?
·         Sealed bids vs. informal quotes

Click Here to request a recording of the webinar.

This webinar was hosted by Building Construction Technology Educational Center_SM, a Division of StructureTec. They will be hosting a Building Envelope Forum in Detroit, MI on February 18^th, 2015 covering a wide variety of topics pertaining to facility management. Please click here for more information on the topics.

2015 Schedule Impacting Bid Results

As we are preparing for 2015 Capital Projects, what are the recent trends in the industry that are affecting the bid results? Some have experienced the benefits of bidding projects that are scheduled for the second or third quarter in the first quarter or even in the fourth quarter the year before. However now that we are well into 2015, there are several factors that need to be considered when bidding for upcoming 2015 work. 

2015 Trends

So far 2015 has started with several conditions, although not seen to this effect in recent years; the conditions are not surprising with the situations leading up to 2015. Projects that have been pushed back and delayed years previously are now being slated for 2015 work. Based on the amount spent on construction over the past 3 years in the U.S., the average growth of construction projects was 7% more each year (Huesman, Holland, & Langley, 2015). There is more work in the market place and not enough man power to execute the projects. Contractors are even turning down the invitation to bid because their backlog is already full for the construction season. With less tier one contractors bidding, it becomes more of a challenge to receive the most competitive pricing for upcoming work.

Upcoming Projects

With capital projects slated for 2015, it is crucial the projects get bid out as soon as possible while still allowing time for the proper design and expectations to be factored in. Inviting more contractors that are qualified for the job will also be beneficial. Not only local contractors but also inviting regional contractors will yield a competitive price. Due to the amount of projects in the market place, inviting more contractors  then one might normally expect, with the expectation a few might decline the invitation, competitive prices are still obtainable.

During the bidding phase, one might also ask the contractors their schedule for performing the work. Having firm start dates and completion dates might be a contributing factor of inflated pricing. If possible, it would be better to work with the contractor on their current backlog and still meet milestones such as substantial completion before end of summer opposed to project start on a firm date. Their still may be a narrow window for the work to take place, but the more one is willing to work with the contractor during the bidding stage, the better the prices will be.

With the construction season rapidly approaching we wish you the best of luck for your 2015 Capital Projects.

Works Cited
Huesman, J., Holland, L., & Langley, T. (2015, January 02). Construction Spending.
Retrieved January 12, 2015, from United States Census Bureau: https://www.census.gov/construction/c30/prpdf.html

Thanks for A Great 2014!

Before we lock the office doors and head home to enjoy the holiday with family and friends, we would like to take a moment to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. We wouldn't be who we are without all of our great employees, clients and families. Thank you all for another great year!

Sincerely,

High Performance People Series: Interview with Russ Thurston, P.E.

Q: How long have you been working with StructureTec Group?

A:  I started in March of 2011. I have been in the parking structure and building restoration industry since graduation in June of 1980.

Q: What significant changes have transpired since you started?

A: We expanded our services. Since I started, we've increased our focus on horizontal restoration and concrete repair services. Basically we've developed a more significant capability for self performing repairs. 

Q: How has your role within the company changed over the years?

A: I was hired in as a senior project manager, responsible for managing individual projects, shortly after I was promoted division manager. As division manager I am responsible for the growth and development of the restoration division.

Q: What was your most memorable/rewarding/challenging project?

A: Most recently, the Tampa General Hospital project. This is the type of project that was our goal to work on since I started. It was unique in its size, complexity, number of structures and logistics. It was a major forensic investigation. 

Another rewarding project is the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, it has been a goal of ours to perform this type of major reconstruction...and we are there now. It is rewarding as the division manager to see the division grow into this caliber of work.

Q: What attracted you to StructureTec Group?

A: I had some existing exposure to the company about 10 years before I joined the team. I talked with CEO, Jeffrey Brittan and thought he had an interesting concept, as far as the way he was structuring the Company. This structure lead to opportunities for growth and development. Unlike other companies, StructureTec doesn't sit around waiting for the work to come in. It was clear that StructureTec is a very market driven firm. 

Q: Where do you see the direction of the company going in the next decade?

A: I see us moving into larger more complex structures, building a greater depth of personnel with our experience in horizontal restoration and using our niche in that market to expand geographically. I also see a huge opportunity in our ability to self perform the repairs as a design-build solution.

Q: What makes StructureTec unique?

A: The biggest difference is flexibility, we are small enough to take risks in development, but large enough to be conservative to make sure everything is being done correctly. We are more entrepreneurial than most engineering firms. Engineers tend to stay very focused on one small capability. We’re not just looking at one particular aspect of a buildings, we’re looking at whatever it takes to service the client. 

Q: What do you enjoy most about your job?

A: The people I work with. I like to teach them and develop their expertise. I also enjoy the challenge of working on parking and building structures, they have a wide range of conditions that have to be evaluated and understood.

Russ Thurston, P.E.

 

Project Spotlight: Marianjoy Hospital Green Roof

Marianjoy Hospital in Wheaton Illinois was getting an upgrade. A new patient tower, conference center and cafeteria were being added to their campus. With construction underway on the new additions, the hospital’s management recommended that an aesthetically appealing green roof system be added to an existing roof area because it would be visible from the new patient tower.

Construction underway.

They wanted to create a space that would promote patient healing through a natural environment as well as provide a place to host events. A green roof would be just that. Rather than look out onto a typical roof system, patients staying in the new tower could look from their windows down to a beautifully landscaped green roof. Also, the area could be used as a place for people to get outside and enjoy some fresh air while staying under the care of hospital staff.

The hospital contacted an architect who recommended they add the green roof on top of the existing roof system. StructureTec Group had worked with the facility manager on other projects, valuing StructureTec Group's reputation for best-in-class building envelope weatherproofing, the facility manager decided to get a second opinion.

The problem with the suggested approach was that the existing roof was not designed to support a green roof. The existing roof was a 19 year-old modified bitumen roof constructed with seams in the membrane. A green roof membrane has to be designed to hold water for the plants. Thankfully the roofing experts at StructureTec caught the error before any plans were drawn. The facility manager selected StructureTec Group to design and build the green roof using the Premier Engineered Systems project delivery method.

Premier Engineered Systems is our unique Design-Build approach. This method utilizes the design expertise of StructureTec in partnership with the construction expertise of Construction Services Group, a StructureTec Group subsidiary. This design-build approach eliminates the bidding process, allowing projects to be fast-tracked and designers and contractors to work together as a unified team. This method was necessary for the project because construction was already underway on the new patient tower. Construction Services Group (CSG), had only a brief window of time to complete the project before access to the roof was blocked by the new patient tower that would be multiple stories higher than the green roof.

CSG technicians began work on the project, only to discover that the two roof areas intended for the green roof had been built differently. On one section, the existing modified bitumen roof was adhered directly to the concrete deck, not on top of insulation as it was on the other side. This discovery required the StructureTec designers to re-engineer the roof system for that section. Otherwise the roof would have been higher than the door thresholds. A plan was developed to remove the existing roof and prepare a new concrete surface coated with an aesthetically pleasing, skid resistant PMMA surface. This completely waterproofed the roof without adding any additional height.

Installed planters.

Because Premier Engineered Systems was chosen as the project delivery method, this new challenge did not delay the project. The designers and builders were working together throughout the process, CSG was able to continue to work while the designers at StructureTec redesigned the plan for the unexpected roof system. This allowed CSG to meet their deadline without delaying construction on the new additions; a delay that could have cost the client thousands.

CSG met their deadline and installed a weatherproof and beautifully landscaped green roof. The green roof is now a real focal point of the hospital. It is a unique place where they can host events but more importantly a place that promotes patient healing reflecting the hospital’s dedication to providing the highest quality of care possible to their patients.

Completed green roof.