Tag: construction

HPM Hires Director of Planning Services

Posted on December 18, 2022

We are pleased to announce the hiring of Scott Leopold as Director of Planning Services at HPM. Scott will work alongside Tracy Richter, Vice President of Planning Services at HPM, to expand our partnerships with K-12 school districts in markets throughout the Southeast, bolster existing relationships with clients and enhance the overall facility planning process for bond programs.

Scott joins the company with more than 17 years of experience in facility planning and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) services, having coordinated and led capacity and utilization analyses, educational adequacy assessments, demographic analyses and enrollment projections for K-12 school districts of all sizes. He previously served as partner at Cooperative Strategies, where he worked with school districts across the country to lead successful facilities master planning projects and assist with implementation of GIS programs. Within the past decade, Scott has toured more than 500 schools and worked on projects in 100 school districts. He has also worked as a subcontractor on numerous jobs with HPM previously and collaborated with Tracy on many of these projects.

Using his experience in GIS, Scott will work to enhance the methods used by our planning services team to present data to clients and build new strategies using advanced digital platforms to make the process more interactive and convenient. The creation of online mapping applications and the use of dashboards will allow our clients to visualize large amounts of data in a way that is digestible and easy to understand. He hopes to expand this concept to projects within other sectors in the HPM portfolio, as well.

“My passion lies in understanding the wants and needs of communities that often have strong emotional attachment to their school systems, and turning that into data that can be used to improve education facilities,” said Scott. “As conditions continue to change across our industry and the need for adaptability increases, it is time to move into the next generation of interactive data presentation to make the planning process smoother for these communities. HPM has established a track record of excellence within facility planning, and I look forward to continuing this pattern of success and strengthening client relationships alongside Tracy.”

With the addition of Scott, our planning services team will continue to provide comprehensive oversight and guidance on capital and operational building programs, providing a holistic scope to clients offering a life cycle of services from planning to implementation. Scott will help to lead our client initiatives and engage with new K-12 school districts seeking to begin planning for bond programs.

“In any facilities planning project, our end goal is always to have an informed community that supports its school system and is excited to implement improvements to make those schools function at the highest possible level,” said Tracy. “I believe Scott’s drive to make the entire process as inclusive and community-driven as possible will only take HPM’s planning services capabilities to the next level. His knowledge combined with our experience in successful K-12 planning will continue to drive cost and time savings for our clients.”

We are currently involved in numerous K-12 planning projects across the region, including a $280 million bond program for the Manor Independent School District in Manor Texas, Facility Master Planning for Round Rock ISD and South Bend Community Schools and Pre-Bond Planning Services for Nampa Schools.

With a presence throughout the U.S. and a total management portfolio value of $1+ billion annually, we have established ourselves as one of the industry’s leading program managers and owner’s representative companies. Our recent notable clients and accounts include a program management contract for Airbus’ campus including the A320 and A220 assembly lines in Mobile, Alabama; an assignment to lead the site selection process, planning, design and construction of Boom Supersonic’s first manufacturing facility; project management services for several new minor league baseball ballparks and major league spring training facilities in Florida; a preconstruction services and construction administration contract for facilities owned by Regions Financial Corporation; a partnership with the World Games 2022 as the official program management partner; and program management services for multiple K-12 school districts and higher education institutions throughout the South.

HPM Managed Construction for Buffalo Rock Company North Alabama Distribution Center

Posted on December 1, 2022

In 2020, HPM was presented with the opportunity to represent Buffalo Rock in the construction of their brand-new North Alabama distribution center in Huntsville. Eager to further expand upon our food and beverage portfolio, we accepted the task at hand, and embarked on a two-year project with Buffalo Rock.

Early conversations revealed that the space would occupy roughly 204,000 gross square feet and would demand the capability for future expansion, as the facility would be a consolidation of what was previously two separate buildings. Matthew Dent, CEO and President of Buffalo Rock cast a vision on behalf of the company, stating “As our business grows and expands, we need a facility that could outpace us.” Dent went on to explain that this facility would have distribution impact from the state line of Mississippi to the Tennessee state line and would include the majority of the Northern and Northeastern regions of Alabama.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqNRayF-r28

With the client’s needs at the forefront of their minds, HPM’s preconstruction team began assisting Buffalo Rock in their search for the ideal location to house the facility. As sites were explored, HPM expedited due-diligence and design efforts to ensure the project stayed on target for the established completion date. In due time, 55 acres of land were purchased, allowing space to accommodate 34 loading docks and 89 parking spaces for trucks and trailers and the desired square footage. Ground was broken on December 17, 2020, and construction promptly began.

While monitoring progression on the job site, HPM also ensured the project owner was regularly updated at internal leadership meetings, providing them peace of mind through thorough and transparent communication. Additionally, HPM conducted regular meetings with the City of Huntsville and adjacent projects to coordinate shared roadways, utilities and infrastructure in order to build good rapport with the community. Dent spoke to the company’s emphasis on community engagement, sharing “It’s important to Buffalo Rock that we invest in every community in which we operate. As we make investments across the Buffalo Rock footprint, the project here in Huntsville is a great example of our model—we build first class projects that not only we are proud of, but that the community can take pride in as long-term jobs are created for city residents”.

Unique challenges always accompany unprecedented growth, however HPM was at the side of Buffalo Rock’s leadership team every step of the way. During the site-work portion of the construction phase, an abnormal amount of groundwater was found, contrary to what was shown on the Geotech exploration, due to heavy rainfall. Because of HPM’s expertise in navigating complex projects with successful solutions, water mitigation efforts were enacted, enabling the team to remain on schedule.

Throughout the lifecycle of the project, HPM consistently led in cost reduction and optimization of time management, enabling the facility to achieve completion on July 14, 2022—ahead of schedule and within budget. Dent described HPM’s leadership on the project stating “When we first met with HPM, there was obviously a whole menu of services we could select. We selected the entire menu, which took us from site selection all the way through the completion and delivery of the final product. HPM has been in the driver’s seat from the get-go on this project, and it has been very successful”.

HPM values the trusted relationship we share with Buffalo Rock and looks forward to the continued growth that is to come.

Manor ISD Breaks Ground on K-8 Tech Campus

Posted on June 2, 2022

Last week, HPM’s client Manor Independent School District celebrated a milestone with a groundbreaking ceremony for its new technology-focused campus that will serve students in grades K–8. The two-story, 116,000 SF facility will have a capacity of about 800 students.

Amenities are set to include a large media center, two art rooms, three maker spaces, two gymnasiums, a performing arts classroom, student collaboration areas, and flex space.

“Not only is this a momentous occasion for Manor ISD because it marks the first step in building a new, state-of-the-art facility for our district’s scholars, but it is groundbreaking because it will be the first campus of its kind in our region,” said Manor ISD Superintendent Dr. Andre D. Spencer. “This campus will serve K–8 students under one roof, which is a rare educational model in the public school system in our state. We are excited about the many proven benefits of this model, including lower levels of anxiety among middle schoolers.”

Funds for the project come from a $280 million bond package approved by Manor voters in November of 2019. The bond package focuses on projects to accommodate student growth, make facility upgrades and repairs, and improve transportation, security, and technology within the Manor district, as well as this new k-8 school. These projects will help accommodate growth in the 9,500-student district, which is expected to grow by 2.5% to 5% each year for the next 10 years, according to district student enrollment projections.

HPM is serving as program manager for Manor ISD, providing project management, quality control, and preconstruction services, as well as maintaining schedule and budget compliance during the next three years. The architect, ADM Group, Inc., was contracted by MISD and worked in conjunction with the administration to design the new school. Lee Lewis Construction Inc. is the construction manager at risk.

“HPM is proud to lead Manor ISD and our project partners through the development of this exciting project,” said HPM Senior Program Manager Andrew Betts. “This campus will provide a unique opportunity to incorporate technology and interactive learning within nine levels of education, all on one campus. This ceremony is a symbol of Manor ISD’s commitment to providing the best educational resources for the scholars within this community.”

HPM Promotes Michael Eskew to Senior Mechanical Preconstruction Manager

Posted on May 31, 2022

HPM’s preconstruction team has grown exponentially throughout the years as we’ve added critical team members that have continued to bolster our capabilities, each bringing specialized knowledge to the table to keep our initiatives moving forward. We have always placed a heightened emphasis on the importance of preconstruction services and knew that hiring a mechanical, electrical and plumbing engineering (MEP) expert in-house would take this service line to the next level. Michael Eskew was the perfect person for the job, bringing a vital 30 years of experience in the MEP field to the team. Because of his impressive leadership and willingness to take on initiatives outside of his wheelhouse, Michael has been promoted to senior mechanical preconstruction manager.

Michael previously served as mechanical preconstruction manager, leading HVAC systems and controls, plumbing and fire protection initiatives for construction programs in sectors including K-12, higher education and industrial. As senior mechanical preconstruction manager, Michael will be responsible for overseeing these programs on a higher level, involving engineering and design management, estimating, budgeting, systems analysis and consulting.

Michael earned his bachelor’s degree in applied mathematics from Auburn University before following in the footsteps of his father, who worked as a consultant for Hoar. After gaining expertise in project management, sales and preconstruction services for several companies and business lines, Michael gladly joined the program management business when he accepted a job at HPM in 2019.

Throughout his time at HPM, Michael has saved owners millions of dollars by selecting alternate systems than those originally chosen by contracted mechanical engineers, showing a sense of authority and proficiency that translates to his track record of success throughout his career.

“Michael has far proven his superior knowledge of mechanical systems and project management, backed by his years of leadership within the industry,” said HPM Vice President of Preconstruction Del Buck. “He is invaluable to our preconstruction team and HPM as a whole, and we knew he needed to advance to this well-deserved position where he could continue using his talents to drive home success for our clients and partners.”

Congratulations, Michael!

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HPM Promotes Kyle Talley to Senior Electrical Preconstruction Manager

Posted on May 24, 2022

In recent years, we have seen great success after bringing our preconstruction services in-house and creating a cohesive team with an extensive knowledge base that has greatly expanded the capabilities of our business. We have expanded this team by hiring mechanical, electrical and plumbing engineering (MEP) experts including electrical preconstruction veteran Kyle Talley. Sure to brighten your day through any interaction, Kyle is always ready and willing to take on extra projects outside of his primary responsibilities and possesses an infectiously positive attitude. His dedication to HPM and ability to successfully lead others through challenging programs is the driving force behind his promotion to senior electrical preconstruction manager.

As senior electrical preconstruction manager, Kyle will lead the charge to support preconstruction efforts for electrical building systems on projects across our portfolio. These systems include electrical, fire alarms, security systems and audio/visual and communication components. Kyle will use his extensive knowledge and experience in construction to create estimates, budgets and systems analyses, to lead engineering and design management and to provide consulting for the electrical components of HPM’s programs.

In 2019, Kyle began his career at HPM as an electrical preconstruction manager on our growing preconstruction services team. He previously worked for a large electrical subcontractor in Birmingham for 18 years, helping to lead various projects through the electrical estimating process. During Kyle’s three years of service with HPM, he has contributed his expertise to countless projects while exemplifying his commitment to creating more efficient strategies and communication techniques for our clients.

In addition to his work saving clients crucial time and money during the preconstruction phase, Kyle has also taken on several additional projects outside the scope of his primary role. He has volunteered on many of HPM’s community service initiatives and has even put his culinary skills to the test as the chief chef for our company’s team in the annual chili cook-off.

“Kyle is an incredibly vital part of our preconstruction team and a go-to source for guidance and a word of encouragement,” said HPM Vice President of Preconstruction Del Buck. “His consistently upbeat outlook and experience in managing teams of estimators have been invaluable to HPM. His promotion is very well deserved, and I know that Kyle will continue to deliver superior results for our clients and partners through his great dedication and strong work ethic.”

Congratulations on this well-deserved promotion, Kyle!

Careers at HPM

HPM Promotes Stewart Nobles to Senior Project Manager

Posted on April 26, 2022

A driving force behind the success of our business has always been the connections we have formed with partners and clients across the country. Occasionally, these outside relationships develop into new team members within HPM, proving that hard work and determination never go unnoticed and are the key markers of top talent. Stewart Nobles is a prime example of this story. Before joining HPM, Stewart had already long established himself as a trusted partner of the firm through his contributions to the Airbus Engineering Center build team. Because of his thorough creative problem-solving skills, adaptability, and versatility within his profession, HPM welcomed him in 2019 as a project manager, and we are pleased to announce his recent promotion to senior project manager.

After his service on the Airbus assignment beginning in 2006, Stewart remained connected with HPM over the years as he furthered his professional experience to include facilities management initiatives. This became particularly beneficial to our team in 2019 when we had the opportunity to expand our Airbus site team in partnership with JCI Building Maintenance and hired Stewart to help manage the program.

Leveraging his experience in project and facilities management, Stewart led HPM’s warranty management and project development activities while contributing to overall team success in other areas. Most notable were his efforts in concert with JCI to develop plans for response to hazardous weather conditions, the development of over 100 projects spanning a wide range of technical scopes, and his day-to-day support for subcontractors and the entire site team.

Stewart’s integrity and knowledge were invaluable in working through the details of project development and management. His ‘make sense’ approach often helps the client understand the depth and implication of the problems faced weekly, and he has played a huge part in maintaining a pattern of success in our facility management and program management initiatives.

Since January, Stewart has made a seamless transition from his service in facilities management to his new role in program management. As senior project manager, Stewart will oversee the administration of all business plans, help build strategy for new business development and lead a team of assistant project managers and project managers in projects from planning to closeout.

Congratulations on this well-deserved promotion, Stewart!

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A Matter of Trust

Posted on April 13, 2022

Over the past 15 years, HPM has proudly assisted the University of Alabama in the execution of an ongoing capital development program totaling over $2.2 billion. We have worked alongside the university on unique projects that range from academic buildings to athletic facilities.

“One of the values that HPM brings to the table is our flexibility and our ability to adapt as we work with clients,” said Joshua Bollinger, HPM Senior Project Manager. “We’re able to take our history and knowledge in the industry and apply those directly to meet our client’s needs.”

HPM has guided extremely demanding construction projects to build extremely high-tech science and engineering facilities that must sustain marine life and withstand earthquake-level forces. We’ve expanded a stadium to seat record numbers of passionate fans. We’ve managed the construction of stylish, comfortable residence halls to house hundreds of students and still feel like home. We have helped to upgrade infrastructure to support it all, and we consider it an honor to have such a significant role in the university’s growth.

“[HPM] has a different mindset,” said Senior Program Manager Brad Cook. “We were formed from a construction company and we know how to get things done and deliver a project that they can basically throw their hands up and say ‘this is exactly what we wanted. You make it look easy.”

Much of this relies on our strong collaborative relationship with the university — they’re open to innovative approaches to scheduling, packaging, and budgeting. Together, we deliver high-quality projects quickly, safely, on budget, and with minimal disruption.

“We can, as an entire company, provide lots of resources and expertise,” said Project Manager Mary Kathryn Holt. “We can pull from preconstruction services when we need those services. It’s not just about what the on-site personnel offer, but we offer the resources of our company as a whole.”

HPM’s Higher Ed Portfolio

Marking a Milestone at Manor ISD

Posted on March 18, 2022

Manor Independent School District celebrated an exciting milestone last week with a groundbreaking ceremony for its new Early College High School facility. Set to open in the fall of 2023, the 85,000 thousand square foot facility will provide students with a college campus-inspired atmosphere.

“This is a great day in Manor ISD,” said Dr. Andre D. Spencer, Manor ISD Superintendent. “We are breaking ground on a new building for a group of scholars who we expect to break ground academically in their respective fields of interest. We expect great things to come out of this facility and the scholars who will call this home.”

Manor Early College High School Rendering

Manor Early College High School (MECHS) provides students who have been historically underrepresented in higher education the opportunity to earn a high school diploma and associate degree through rigorous academic coursework. The program seeks to create a seamless transition to college and reduce the time needed to complete a bachelor’s degree after high school. The new site’s open concept will support this mission by providing the educational experience found on college campuses, featuring a commons area, coffee shop, and buffet-style café.

“This new campus means more academic opportunities for our students, teachers and ACC professors,” said Dr. Alime Sadikova, MECHS Principal. “It gives students a collegiate atmosphere that provides them with academic freedom and still holds them accountable for their own learning.”

The total budgeted amount for MECHS is $35.5 million. Funding for the school comes as part of a $280-million bond package, one of the largest bond programs in the district’s history, which voters approved in November 2019. The bond will focus on projects to accommodate student growth, make facility upgrades and repairs, and improve transportation, security and technology within the Manor district, as well as this new high school. These projects will help accommodate growth in the 9,500-student district, which is expected to grow by 2.5% to 5% each year for the next 10 years, according to district student enrollment projections.

HPM is serving as program manager for Manor ISD’s capital and facility-based projects, providing project management, quality control and preconstruction services, as well as maintaining schedule and budget compliance. Our team will work alongside Manor ISD to ensure schedule and budget compliance as construction advances over the next three years. This includes the build-out and delivery of a new performing arts center, a new middle and elementary school, classroom additions for three campuses, a transportation facility and four new athletic facilities in addition to the early college.

Andrew Betts, HPM Senior Program Manager

“Manor ISD’s student body is expected to exceed 12,000 students within the next few years, which underscores the need for improved and state-of-the-art educational infrastructure,” said Andrew Betts, HPM Senior Program Manager. “HPM is proud to partner with Manor ISD and to see firsthand the positive impact this investment will have on the community.”

HPM K-12 Services

HPM Promotes Jessica Morris to Senior Project Controls Manager

Posted on March 10, 2022

Great leaders don’t set out to be leaders, they set out to make a difference. This is exactly what Jessica Morris has accomplished over the past two years and why she is being promoted from Project Controls Manager to Senior Project Controls Manager.

Jessica joined HPM in the winter of 2018 and relocated to Round Rock, Texas, with her family to lead the new project controls team for Round Rock Independent School District (RRISD). Prior to joining HPM, Jessica worked with the University of Alabama in contract administration where she worked closely with our UA program management team. She holds a master’s of accountancy and a CPA license. Jessica’s husband, Brian Morris, is an HPM Senior Project Manager and also serves on the RRISD team.

Jessica’s ability to build and effectively lead a team was quickly noticed by our client, and she was asked to serve as the Assistant Director of Construction for RRISD. She became the leader for the HPM team and a valuable resource for the RRISD staff. Jessica’s leadership approach focuses on the engagement of all team members to ensure the project exceeds expectations for the client. Her door is always open, and she is always ready to help solve problems or put out the next fire.

Jessica is detail-oriented and industry experienced across many areas. She delivers audit-level financial reviews, presents financial reports to the district CFO and Board of Education, meets with local construction executives on GMPs, reconciles a $500 million budget back to the district’s accounting system every month and implements processes to create transparency and accountability within the construction department. In addition to her financial abilities, Jessica also oversees the maintenance and implementation of the Master Program Schedule. These skillsets along with her welcoming personality have made her an invaluable asset to our client and to HPM.

“The RRISD team has complete faith and trust in Jessica, all due to her incredible leadership, knowledge and problem-solving skills,” said Melanie Camarena, Director of Construction for Round Rock ISD. “Those skills have helped RRISD accomplish a successful 2018 bond and set the framework for future bond successes. Jessica is invaluable to the district.”

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HPM’s Olivia Early Promoted to Project Manager

Posted on March 2, 2022

When it comes to successful programs at HPM, earning the trust of our clients is paramount. Olivia Howard Early has not only quickly earned that trust but has become a highly respected, go-to resource for the client. It is for these reasons as well as her continued commitment to excellence that we are pleased to announce her promotion from Assistant Project Manager to Project Manager.

Olivia started with HPM as a co-op, working on several K-12 programs in Birmingham while earning her bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering at Auburn University. After graduation, she joined the Airbus A220 program in Mobile and quickly became a trusted member of the team in the eyes of both the client and her HPM colleagues. She supported several key projects while managing the global distribution of project reports on behalf of Airbus.

After completing the A220 Program, Olivia headed west with her husband, Jason, and dog, Luna, to take on a new opportunity in Austin, Texas, working on HPM’s Round Rock ISD account. On this $500+ million Bond Program, she has quickly grown to become the project manager of multiple simultaneous projects, coordinates several million dollars of furniture procurements and installs, and is responsible for closing out a $44 million new elementary school project.

She continues to raise her hand to take on new challenges and consistently shows success in a project management role for this very important client. According to Melanie Camarena, Director of Construction for Round Rock ISD, “Olivia has been amazing. She is the only reason we have been successful with our furniture process on both the CD Fulkes Middle School Rebuild and the new Redbud Elementary School.”

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Tag: construction

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