Category: K12

Facility Planning Tool: Demographics Studies

By Tracy Richter

Richter

A demographics study is one of the most effective tools organizations can use to plan for a capital expenditure program or to develop or update a comprehensive facility plan. Knowing who uses your facilities and how they use them makes choosing the right path for your company or organization’s future an easier decision. Demographic studies are a valuable resource to have in your toolbelt. 

Collecting accurate and relevant demographic information is useful to everyone — from large corporations to school districts and municipal governments. Regardless of industry, we use demographics analysis to help you answer the tough questions in facilities planning.  

  1. Where should you expand your facility footprint?
  2. Based on the local population, what services should you prioritize?
  3. In a post-COVID world, will the need for collaborative workspaces be as high as it was before or will building with social distancing in mind be more important in the future?

Planners evaluate many pieces of information when mapping out facilities, but demographics studies are essential to an effective approach. While a major reason that drives the use of this type of tool is market research that results in profit, demographic studies are hugely effective in enabling organizations to better serve stakeholders or constituents.

Example 1: From 2006-2010, a demographic study for one U.S. school district showed a 300% increase in autistic students. Guidelines and legislation necessitate that the classroom size for autistic students be limited to approximately eight individuals, while typical classrooms house about 25. Suddenly, the school’s building capacity shrinks from 500 to 450 classrooms (and this was in a period of growing enrollment). This example highlights that truly understanding what the statistic means is much more important than simply knowing what the statistic is. In this case, the demographic results triggered an immediate need for more space, as well as increased staff who specialize in teaching autistic students.

Example 2: Let’s say you are a corporate executive of a manufacturer that intends to build a new factory. What is the best location for this new facility to thrive? If the factory will be manned by people performing hard labor, it makes sense to build in a more rural area where the demographics show a heavy blue-collar workforce. If the factory will be designed with more automation and intelligent machinery, the best decision is to build in an environment filled with professionals trained in innovative technologies and robotics. Conducting a demographics study in each of the geographic areas you are considering will point you in the right direction.

HPM’s experts have decades of experience using demographic analysis to develop and implement strategic facility plans for our partners.

HPM Talks Webinar: Return to School During COVID-19

With so much uncertainty surrounding the return to school this year, administrators have been tasked with the tough decision of whether or not class should meet in person or virtually. During our latest HPM Talks on September 17, Vice President of Planning Services Tracy Richter was joined by Dr. Todd Freeman, Superintendent of Vestavia Hills City Schools, to discuss what school re-engagement looks like in his Alabama school system. They talked about the role communications played during the planning stages, the precautions Vestavia has implemented to keep students and faculty safe, and the challenges they have faced along the way. 

Speakers:

Tracy Richter

Planning expert Tracy Richter has recently joined the HPM team to lead our new Planning Services division. Tracy comes to us from a nationally recognized educational planning firm founded by Richter that specializes in developing quality learning environments through systematic processes that maximize the use of data and community participation. Tracy assumes the role of Vice President of Planning Services and will lead a team of specialists focused on providing a comprehensive approach to capital and operational building programs. Learn more about Tracy.

Dr. Todd Freeman

Todd Freeman, Ed.D., is the seventh superintendent of Vestavia Hills City Schools. He has served as superintendent since March 2018. Under Freeman’s leadership, Vestavia Hills City Schools developed new strategic goals and renewed the system’s accreditation in 2019. He and his leadership team have overseen the implementation of a comprehensive school restructuring and rezoning plan, including the opening of Vestavia Hills Elementary Dolly Ridge and the new campus of Louis Pizitz Middle School. Learn more about Dr. Freeman.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYozfU16C_Q

HPM Encourages Companies to Donate PPE to Local Schools

Back to school looks a little different this year. As schools across the country began preparing for the fall semester, HPM’s Community Service Committee saw an opportunity to lend a helping hand by donating personal protective equipment (PPE) to school districts with which we work or have worked. 

Thanks to employee donations and annual funds allocated to the Community Service Committee from the Hoar Foundation, the committee collected thousands of disposable face masks, individual hand sanitizers, and antibacterial wipe packets to be donated across four school systems in Texas, Arkansas, and Alabama. HPMers hand delivered the PPE to Round Rock ISD, Ft. Smith Public Schools, Chambers County Schools, and Homewood City Schools, and have received great feedback from school administrators, faculty, and parents.

“We’re grateful for the partnership we have had with HPM over the years,” said Merrick Wilson, Communications Director for Homewood City Schools. “Not only have they helped lead us through the construction process at all our schools, they have also invested in our students and community. This donation will not only help provide our students with additional safety resources in the classrooms, but it will also serve our faculty and staff.” 

Round Rock ISD Partners in Education Foundation tweeted, ”A special shout out to HPM for donating extra masks, sanitizer, and wipes for Round Rock ISD campuses. Thank you for your generosity and taking care of the needs during this school year! Your team is amazing.” 

HPM also donated supplies to the Chambers County Development Authority, who had previously expressed a need for PPE. 

“We have the BEST partners ever,” Executive Director Valerie Gray said. “They knew our staff members’ kids were starting back to school. Thank you HPM for your concern and care for our kids and teachers!” 

The community service committee hopes these efforts will encourage other companies to do the same.   

“For schools that are unable to provide PPE for every student, any donation, big or small, can make an impact,” committee member Kelsey Justice said. “This is an easy way to give back to the communities we live and work in every day.” 

HPM Hires Industry Veteran Tracy Richter to Lead New Planning Services Division

Planning Services will position company for next phase of growth.

Facilities planning expert Tracy Richter recently joined HPM to lead the new Planning Services division, a move that bolsters and expands our service offerings while extending relationships with clients representing more than a dozen industries.

As Vice President of Planning Services, Tracy leads a team of specialists focused on providing a comprehensive approach to capital and operational building programs. Planning Services combines a client’s strategic goals with the operations, practices, and procedures of their organization. The addition expands our reach through a variety of new talents and resources, including

  • – demographic analysis
  • – standards and specifications development
  • – strategic planning
  • – stakeholder engagement and client facilitation
  • – and facility master planning

This holistic scope enables HPM to both deepen and widen new and existing client engagements by offering a life cycle of services that begins with planning and carries all the way through implementation.

Tracy brings more than 25 years of experience as an educator and planner and has coordinated and directed facility planning campaigns totaling $11 billion for more than 1,000 school districts of all sizes across 23 states. He is among a small and elite group of private contractors invited to join the National Council of School Facilities (NCSF), a coalition of state K-12 public school facility directors that advocates for the delivery of buildings that support 21st-century learning and are sustainable and fiscally sound. Before joining HPM, Tracy owned and cofounded DeJONG-RICHTER LLC, a nationally recognized educational planning firm specializing in developing quality learning environments through systematic processes maximizing the use of data and community participation.

“It’s a great honor to join the team of talented professionals at HPM,” said Richter. “Our industry is at a key crossroads right now as higher costs and significant disruptions to the supply chain are pushing owners to find new avenues for more efficient long-term planning strategies that are equipped to meet the present challenges of our time. HPM has provided facility planning services to more than a dozen industries, and the know-how the firm has acquired in sectors like education or manufacturing can just as easily be applied for a client who needs innovative solutions for a new corporate headquarters or aviation facility they’re planning. That diversity of experience and breadth of best practices are true differentiators and will position Planning Services for future growth and success.”

Tracy’s proven track record of generating results through new technologies like Geographic Info Systems (GIS) and cost estimating software transfers well across HPM’s broad portfolio of clients. While these industries serve a variety of different interests, they are united by a shared need for highly functional facilities that will effectively serve key stakeholders while maximizing value over the long-haul.

“We are proud to welcome Tracy to our team and are confident in his ability to further develop and execute HPM’s long-term growth strategy,” said Mike Lanier, President at HPM. “We have always been a client-focused company rather than project-focused and have found that our clients are most fulfilled when we can provide a multi-phased approach to facility planning that helps safeguard their investments through a process that incorporates thoughtful counsel and sound deliberation. The addition of our Planning Services division significantly enhances these capabilities and will allow HPM to cultivate more opportunities for long-term relationships and repeat business, adding value to our clients at every step.”


Soaring to New Heights with a Preconstruction Veteran

Del Buck

In an effort to maximize the company’s effectiveness and efficiency in its preconstruction services, HPM recently hired Del Buck as the Vice President of Preconstruction. In this position, Del is responsible for overseeing the preconstruction services of all HPM program management assignments.

Del has an extensive history of more than 30 years in the AEC industry, including both national and international leadership in preconstruction. His construction experience reaches to Africa, South America, Europe, Nepal, China, South Korea, New Zealand, and the Middle East. As a result of his work experience and attendance at both the American Institute of Estimating and the FMI Leadership Program, Del possesses the expertise to lead HPM in its preconstruction services.   

Buck’s extensive history in preconstruction services includes involvement in multiple real estate sectors. In his preconstruction experience, he has managed an annual project bid volume totaling more than $3 billion for assignments in sectors such as retail, higher education, industrial, multifamily, K-12, medical, and government.

“Del’s problem- solving skills, attention to detail, and organizational skills make him a fit leader in HPM’s preconstruction services,” stated Greg Ellis, Vice President of Program Development. Del stated, “The duties of my position match up well with the experience I gained throughout my career as a general contractor, and the ability to leverage that with HPM’s vast database of pricing technology will allow us to offer custom-produced services tailored for each owner’s budget and scheduling requirements.”

One of HPM’s core values is that each team member strives to be good stewards in terms of time, energy, and resources invested in projects. “Del’s breadth of knowledge and experience in the industry allows HPM to continue to strive to meet this goal in order to efficiently serve the company’s clients. His goal of relentless improvement and efficiency in preconstruction services will contribute to the company’s exceptional performance in program management,” stated Greg.  

“HPM considers Del to be an asset to the company, in terms of its growth and success. We believe Del’s ability to see through the GC lens combined with the advanced estimating technology and pricing databases at HPM will give us a competitive edge that cannot be replicated anywhere else.”

Mike Lanier, HPM President

HPM’s Jesse Montgomery Helps Fight School Absenteeism in a Dallas Community through Volunteer Laundromat Project

According to the Department of Education, one out of every six students miss three or more weeks during a school year. Students with chronic absenteeism are likely to not be able to read at their grade level, drop out of school, and be linked to difficult outcomes in adult life. Across the United States, there have been many approaches to help encourage and support these children.

Montgomery

For Jesse Montgomery, HPM Preconstruction Manager, the completion of a two-year volunteer project on a community laundromat in Dallas, Texas has much more impact than what one may think.

Jesse is the 2018 Foundation Project Chair of The Real Estate Council (TREC), an organization which has contributed more than $12.5 million in grant funds and assisted more than 150 nonprofit organizations in its community projects.

He currently has been working alongside TREC to lead an influential construction project that aims to bring change to a neighborhood in South Dallas through the reconstruction of a local laundromat.

As the Foundation Project Chair, Jesse had to sort through many project options to select which organization would be the recipient of the TREC’s funds, time and expertise. What really made the laundromat stand out as the volunteer project to pursue was more than the practical details, but the needs of the community.

“I was made aware that the residents of this area didn’t have access to washers or dryers in their homes or public laundromat facilities due to low-income. Consequently, children in this area were frequently missing school because they didn’t have clean clothes and didn’t want to go. Taking on this project would mean that we were helping create a business that could really help meet dire needs in this community.”

Jesse Montgomery

The Cornerstone Baptist Church had an even greater plan for the building. With the opening of a laundromat, not only could people in the community do their laundry, but the church saw the potential to allow members of the community to work there. The church also had a vision of taking the remainder of the building to add other businesses, such as a convenience store, to employ people and create more opportunities within the community.

While Jesse worked on this project through the organization TREC, HPM also played an important role in helping Jesse act as a project manager for this volunteer project.

“I’m so grateful to have been working for HPM during this volunteer project, because it helped me simply by being able to be around so many successful project managers that I could bounce ideas off of and ask how to approach different tasks.”

Jesse Montgomery

The laundromat project was a first for both Jesse and TREC. The volunteer projects usually stay at the $60,000 budget and have a quick turn-around for completion. However, this laundromat project took two full years of volunteering and over $500,000 was raised for the renovations.

TERC volunteer workday

Additionally, Jesse and TREC held a volunteer workday and is soon to host their first grand opening for an actual business.

As Jesse looks behind at the successes of this project and ahead at what’s next, it’s clear to see the values that he has when it comes to both his work ethic and his care for his community.

“Really, I love helping people,” Jesse said. “At HPM, being in preconstruction allows me to help clients make the right decisions for their projects. And with this TREC volunteer work, I’m able to put a face to what I’m contributing to. I’ve had a great experience and I’m eager to see what’s next for me.”

The grand opening for the laundromat is September 21, 2019. For more information about TREC, visit their website at recouncil.com.

HPM Valuing Clients through Program Development Services

Starting strong is how dreams turn into reality and how HPM teams lead clients into successful projects.

Our program development services are as established as our company. HPM was founded to build upon our roots of construction and grow more fully into helping clients by managing all the intricacies of planning, design, and construction. By putting our expertise to work, we were able to help owners complete their projects faster – and at a better price – than had they managed the entire process on their own.

We mean it when we say that we’re true advocates of our clients, and that our value of being family-oriented affects the way that we do business. One way that HPM puts our values into action is through program development services.

For a long time, program development has just been the way that our company runs — going above and beyond what’s expected for the sake of the client, taking the time to have and maintain open communication with leadership, and valuing the entire lifetime of a client’s project rather than just our role as program managers.

Our HPM program development team focuses on helping clients on the front end to cast vision and create effective plans before a construction project begins.

Ellis

“The way that HPM provides program development services doesn’t really exist elsewhere in the industry. Our program development is intentionally customer-driven and customer-focused. We recognize that project management may not be our client’s area of expertise, and that results in clients with many questions and a lack of confidence and clarity. At HPM, we want to help a client move forward with their project in a way that is truly best for the client in the long-term, and program development helps us to do that.”

Greg Ellis, Vice President of Program Development

HPM’s program development services were created to help bring project definition. Often, a client may recognize need for outside assistance, but may not fully understand what direction to take. At HPM, program development services help refine client’s true needs and define what services best fit those needs. Program development is meant to fill in the gap for clients to truly get all that they want out of their project.

“Because we care about our clients, program development services are an effort to match our best skill sets to their actual needs,” said Ellis. “We want our clients to see that they aren’t purchasing unnecessary services so they can trust that we are giving them our highest levels of expertise.”

One success story that resulted from thorough program development is HPM’s work with Airbus to build the A320 Final Assembly Line in Mobile, Alabama in 2015. The aerospace giant deemed HPM “the local experts” because of our knowledge of the community, laws and regulations, and relationships cultivated with local contractors. HPM completed the A320 project four months early and nearly seven percent below budget.

Program development is woven into the fabric of our company and has existed within our values before the services were even defined. Our program development teams and services have strengthened relationships, created strategy and added value to each project they have helped manage. Built on this foundation, HPM has currently begun to expand program development services at a broader pace and scale to both existing and potential clients.

As new geographies and potential clients are pursued, the role of program development is the marrying of our skills and client needs. As we build relationships with our clients, we can together discuss what their project opportunities are and create a plan that adds the most value to their project.

For our existing clients, the main objective of program development is to provide our clients with the consistency of our leadership, quality, and care. As clients complete projects and their needs change, our goal is to have an integrated approach of pursuing potential opportunities into longer-standing programs and adding value to our clients beyond initial projects.

For example, one of our clients in the education sector simply reached out to HPM for a second opinion on their project. But by engaging in our program development services, we then began long-range planning. HPM provided support and assistance in how to plan for potential growth and expansion 10 years down the road. Because of this strategic planning, this client doesn’t have to worry about outgrown facilities or quick fixes but can operate in confidence while looking forward into the future of the school system.

McSween

HPM also recently hired Derek McSween, a respected industry veteran, as our first Senior Program Development Manager to coincide with the efforts of expanding program development services. McSween has more than 30 years of technical skills as well as 18 years of experience in program management. His industry experience provides a unique balance of knowledge of how project is to actually be built and how a program is to be run.

“I am honored and excited to join the incredibly talented team at HPM. There is a unique opportunity to cultivate new partnerships through my prior connections and experience in the industry, and also utilize my skills as a professional trainer to help grow the next generation of leaders within. I look forward to playing an active role at the company as we tackle new challenges and build upon an already strong foundation.”

Derek McSween, Senior Program Development Manager

HPM Hires Respected Industry Veteran to Coincide with Push into Major Program Management Markets

At HPM, we’re always looking for ways to pursue excellence within our industry. This pursuit includes not only providing the best program management services but also having the best people on our teams.

As we expand into new markets of program management, we need leaders who are known for their relational skills, determined work ethic, and integrity that will help pave the way for HPM to stand out within our industry.

McSween

Currently, HPM has added Derek McSween to our team as our first Senior Program Development Manager.

McSween’s appointment to the newly created position comes as HPM expands its footprint into major program management markets throughout the country. In his new role, McSween will be responsible for providing strategic leadership and direction for new and developing client projects and will serve as the main conduit between business development and the operational phases of an assignment.

With nearly 30 years of program and construction management experience, McSween has established proven processes for assembling highly skilled teams, mitigating risk and driving cost-control and efficiency for an array of signature projects around the globe totaling more than $3 billion.

“Derek is a dynamic leader with an impressive combination of industry experience and technical know-how that made him a natural fit for this position. We’re thrilled to have him on board,” said Mike Lanier, President of HPM. “His ability to pick up new skills, anticipate clients’ needs and connect them with our overall strategy and core values will generate meaningful results for HPM. We look forward to watching Derek apply his passion and expertise as he helps drive our company into the next phase of growth.”

“I am honored and excited to join the incredibly talented team at HPM,” said McSween. “There is a unique opportunity to cultivate new partnerships through my prior connections and experience in the industry, and also utilize my skills as a professional trainer to help grow the next generation of leaders within. I look forward to playing an active role at the company as we tackle new challenges and build upon an already strong foundation.”

McSween will be largely responsible for identifying new opportunities for deploying HPM’s portfolio of services, including facility master planning, space planning, facility assessments, and long-range capital planning, as well as a special emphasis in K-12 programming.

“Derek’s ability to manage high-impact teams and effectively deliver projects will be a valuable asset as we plan and prepare for the next decade ahead. His experience in the field and as an owner’s rep will be invaluable in developing new strategies that are necessary for HPM to cross the next threshold as a company.”

Greg Ellis, HPM Vice President of Program Development

Prior to joining HPM, McSween served as a Managing Director, Director of Diversity and Community Development and Senior Program Manager for Bovis Lendlease. While there, McSween forged new ties with the Charlotte Mecklenburg School System – North Carolina’s second-largest school district – where he provided oversight for the design and implementation for a K-12 bond program. McSween is largely credited for helping to grow the school system’s bond program from $130 million to its present-day total that exceeds $2 billion.

Since 2015, McSween has served as president of Port Saint Lucie Speakers Toastmaster Club, an organization dedicated to improving communication and leadership skills. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Rochester, held an NC General Contractors License and was an OSHA 500 certified trainer.

In addition to McSween’s responsibilities of identifying new opportunities for HPM services to expand into the market, he will also offer professional development opportunities for HPM’s team members, such as teaching public speaking and other leadership skills. McSween will also oversee the growth of the firm’s diversity programming. McSween was awarded the “Catalyst of Diversity” award by the Charlotte Business Journal for his exemplary work in the community and for helping small minority and female owner businesses compete and excel in their respective fields.

HPM is known for having family-like relationships, profitable stewardship and continual pursuit of improvement, and McSween is sure to add value to HPM’s leadership, impact and reputation within the program management industry.

“Derek is a force of positive change. We’re certain he will make a lasting impact on HPM and be an unwavering source of guidance for our firm.”

Mike Lanier, HPM President

HPM’s Beginnings: A History Built on Standing in the Gap (Part Two)

By Mike Lanier, President

Welcome back as we turn back time with our founding president reminding us in this two-part series about how HPM was founded and how it continues to grow. You can read Part One of this series posted earlier on our blog.

In 2013, HPM took to the skies and provided the much-needed boots on the ground in the US for the global aerospace company, Airbus. Our expert staff members embedded themselves within Airbus and became the client’s eyes and ears during the design and construction of their first US manufacturing facility, which has led us to other clients in the aerospace and aviation industry.

Along the time that HPM began making its impression in several industries signaled the time for the company to be organized into its own entity, and HPM was officially structured into an LLC, branded itself apart from the construction company, and offered services separate from industry norms.

Regions Field

A few years ago, HPM represented the City of Birmingham by managing the design and construction of a new minor league baseball stadium right in the middle of downtown which sparked a revitalization of the area. Now, we have lead the building of several new major and minor league baseball stadiums across the Southeast as well as numerous collegiate sports venues across the US.

As a part of our growth strategy, HPM acquired a construction audit and contracting firm which serves an impressive list of clients including Google, Caesar’s Entertainment, Southwest Airlines, Facebook and Landry’s.  The team criss-crosses the country involving themselves in clients’ contract negotiations; conducting interim and final audits to determine reimbursable costs, fees, savings and savings allocations; reviewing pay applications; calculating scheduled damages; and managing claims analysis and defense. We like to say that our audit and contract services provide clients with confidence knowing you paid the right price on your construction spend.

Today, HPMers serve global clients across the US from offices and project sites dotted throughout the country. Our clients continue to work with us on new projects because we have created deep, long-lasting relationships, and we continue to attract innovative and passionate talent because our work and our teams are meaningful, interesting and fun!

HPM was founded by leaders for leaders who lead at every level. We strive to be the perfect partner in every way so that our clients’ organizations achieve success.

My talented colleagues come from all walks of life and expertise – engineers, builders, estimators and designers work alongside accountants, business managers, communications professionals and administrative experts.  Every role is important in HPM’s success and our clients’ success.

I believe HPM employees are relationship-driven, problem solvers, and good stewards. We strive to have purpose in our lives and do the right things for our clients and our community. My colleagues take the time to truly get to know our clients and their businesses to provide that ultimate form of servant leadership – the trusted advisor.

HPM’s Beginnings: A History Built on Standing in the Gap (Part One)

By Mike Lanier, President

Join us on this look back in time as our founding president reminds us in this two-part series about how HPM was founded and how it continues to grow.

Mike Lanier

HPM is in the business of leading. Sometimes, that looks like shepherding more than it does signaling a full-scale charge from the front.

While others in our industry focus on getting plans on paper or aim at the best ways to compile bricks, concrete, and steel, we focus on what’s most important to our clients at any given moment.  HPM serves as a trusted advisor who stands in as the owner’s advocate in a capital building program.

And that can look like a lot of different ways to lead and serve.

A Little History

Our unique story of this servant-leadership style began in 1940 when Friend Reed (F.R.) Hoar founded the F.R. Hoar Construction Company in Birmingham, Alabama. Over the decades, the company has grown across the US with new projects, new clients, and new colleagues.

I began my career with Hoar Construction in the mid-1990s doing pre-construction work in the retail industry, and very quickly, I noticed many of our clients needed help beyond that of traditional contractors.  I happily provided them the guidance they needed simply because it was the right thing to do.

Rob Burton

Rob Burton, CEO of Hoar Holdings (which owns HPM and Hoar Construction), served as the Executive Vice President of Hoar Construction at the time I joined the company. He and I recognized the market needed someone that could help clients reach success by managing all the intricacies of their construction projects – from planning, design, and construction through to owner occupancy.

After a serendipitous lunch with his daughter at her school where a construction project was in disarray, putting students at risk, Rob met with the District Superintendent and offered our services. This led us to pre-construction work for school districts and municipalities who struggled to proceed with projects because they constantly seemed to stay overbudget, behind schedule, and/or beyond their capabilities.

In 1997, Hoar Program Management (HPM) was founded as a division of Hoar Construction to serve as advocates for our clients. During this time, we guided Hoover City School District during all phases of their construction projects which put us on the map in Alabama for K12 and which has now expanded to include school districts throughout the country.

HPM team members now shepherd school superintendents and school boards through the planning, funding and site selection phases of capital bond programs through design and into construction and move-in.

In 2003, we graduated into the corporate world with our partnership with Regions Bank. Regions utilized our program management services to help stay on budget and on schedule while they rolled out new bank branches across their multi-state footprint. More than 15 years later, we still partner with Regions Bank and have expanded our services into interiors planning and move management. 

In 2004, HPM made the leap into higher education when a large university in our home state hired us to provide program management support for six different simultaneous construction projects on campus. And, we’re still there today due to our deep relationships with the staff and leadership team and a successful 15-year track record. Since 2004, we have completed more than $2 billion in capital building projects to facilitate the university’s rapid growth.

And that was just the beginning…

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