Tag: project management

HPM Celebrates Completion of Tony and Libba Rane Culinary Science Center at Auburn University

Posted on February 9, 2023

Team HPM oversees preconstruction and construction services for 142,000-square-foot facility housing learning hotel, restaurant, training labs and more.

We are pleased to announce the grand opening of Auburn University’s Tony and Libba Rane Culinary Science Center, an innovative, dual-purpose building that houses a learning environment blended with a luxury boutique hotel, restaurant, food hall and more. HPM served as program manager on the project, providing project management support for Auburn University Facilities Management during the preconstruction and construction phases of the world-class educational and hospitality facility.

HPM Celebrates Completion of Tony and Libba Rane Culinary Science Center at Auburn University

The Tony and Libba Rane Culinary Science Center is a 142,000-square-foot complex with the capacity to facilitate hands-on, immersive learning experiences for students pursuing careers in hospitality and culinary sciences. Students will train alongside world-renowned chefs and hospitality professionals in Class-A training kitchens and restaurants, labs, a brewery, retail food hall and boutique hotel. Also located on the first floor of the building is 1856, a tasting-menu-only teaching restaurant. Situated at the corner of East Thach Avenue and South College Street in downtown Auburn, construction on the building began in 2019.

“We have had a wonderful experience working with Auburn University Facilities Management to bring this one-of-a-kind hospitality learning environment to life. The strong relationships we have formed with our partners have driven home success for this project and kept us focused throughout every step, even as we faced a global pandemic. This is another successful project that we are pleased to add to our portfolio of high-profile hospitality and higher-education initiatives across the Southeast.”
– Ryan Austin, President HPM

The project team provided preconstruction and construction services on the project including contract oversight and quality control and assurance, working closely with design teams during the planning stages to ensure the initial drawings aligned with the budget and timeline, while also managing communication with all partners and subcontractors to guarantee that progress remained on schedule. We scoped out and managed the bidding of a separate utility and enabling works package for the building contractor, helping bypass time-intensive utility relocations and keeping the overall project schedule on track. The team also oversaw the construction of a six-story, $10 million parking deck nearby before beginning work on the culinary facility.

“I am proud of our team’s dedication to collaboration and preplanning, which ultimately led to a smooth transition between each phase of the project lifecycle. This facility is a trailblazer in both the hospitality and higher education industries, providing a range of training opportunities that are not offered at other institutions in the country. HPM’s expertise in owner’s representation and construction management maintained cost efficiency and ensured this project was completed to Auburn University’s high standard of excellence.”
-Caleb Camp, Operations Manager HPM

Auburn alumnus and Board of Trustees member Jimmy Rane helped kickstart the project with a $12 million gift dedicated to the building’s construction. The board later approved naming the facility in honor of his parents, Tony and Libba Rane.

Our team helped administer the State of Alabama bid process during the preconstruction phase to select qualified, experienced contractors and partners. Additional project partners include architecture and design firm Cooper Carry, facility operator Ithaca Hospitality Partners, the Auburn Facilities Management department and general contractor Bailey Harris Construction Company. We are thrilled with the finished product of this best-in-class facility.

HPM Promotes David Jones to Program Manager

Posted on January 23, 2023

The culture of HPM is built upon leaders with proven ability to deliver outstanding work products, while also embodying the core values of the company and building meaningful relationships. All who have had the pleasure of interacting with David Jones, know that he fits these criteria and more. Whether it be a client or a colleague, David is sure to ascribe value to all he meets, providing them a sense of belonging and assurance. Along with his personability and leadership skills, David brings astute intelligence and a “can-do” attitude. For these reasons and more, we are pleased to announce the promotion of David Jones to Senior Program Manager.

As Senior Program Manager, David provides leadership to multiple accounts, some of which include Aerojet, Drake State and ALDCNR as he interacts directly with clients and supports teams in their execution of projects. This will be an excellent role for David as a client recently said of him “his leadership style of selflessness and service is both infectious and empowering.” Under David’s leadership, his clients and his teams will be given every resource needed to ensure the completion of successful projects.

When David began his career with HPM in 2018 working as a Project Manager on the University of Alabama account, his willingness to accept new projects of varying complexity and scope quickly distinguished him as a rising star within the company. After proving his ability to navigate challenges with ease, David was promoted to Senior Project Manager in 2021. Before coming to HPM, David worked as a construction manager for Gray Construction and a project coordinator and estimator for KBR. He has over 17 years of total construction experience and a degree in construction engineering technology from the University of Southern Mississippi.

David is an avid outdoorsman and enjoys staying busy partaking in adventurous activities such as hiking and biking when not in the office. He is married to his wife, Laura and is the proud father of eleven-year-old twin daughters, Haley and Ella.

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.

HPM Promotes Brad Cook to Program Executive

Posted on November 16, 2022

One of our core values is to have a “Relentless Pursuit of Improvement” in our work, and no one embodies this more than HPM’s Brad Cook. Always willing to rise to any challenge that comes his way, Brad puts our clients first and promotes honesty and transparency across his team. He adapts to our constantly changing industry with ease, and prioritizes building strong relationships with clients, partners and suppliers. Because of his relentless pursuit of improvement and his ability to guide others through difficult projects with fairness and hands-on support, HPM is pleased to announce the promotion of Brad to Program Executive.

As Program Executive for the $1.3 billion Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC) program, Brad is leading the charge to build two new replacement facilities in Elmore and Escambia, Alabama. Once fully staffed, Brad will provide oversight to over 40 team members. His fellow team members have remarked on his hard work, humility and reliability which he brings to every project.

Brad, who began his career at HPM in 2004, began working on the University of Alabama account in 2007. Over the past nearly 18 years, he has managed some of the most complicated and challenging projects — including Lakeside Dining, the Ferguson Center addition/renovation, Fresh Food foodservice, Bryce Main stabilization/renovation as well as the performing arts center projects. After leading the UA account, Brad transitioned to leading the ADOC program as a senior program manager, where he has leveraged his extensive program management skills and expertise to provide excellent results for our client.

Brad exerts great effort to care for his staff and works in the best interest of his clients. It is evident that he strives to do the right thing instead of what is easy, while always looking on the bright side of complicated situations. I look forward to seeing how he will continue to grow in his new role and lead his team and HPM to success on the ADOC account.

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.”

Celebrating Safety Week 2022

Posted on May 2, 2022

Construction safety is a bond that unites us all, no matter your role on a project. It’s our connection to each other and the entire industry. This week is Safety Week 2022, and the theme of this year’s event is Connected. Supported. Safe: Eliminate the Hazards.

Being connected means we are not alone in building a stronger, safer industry, and in creating a safe, supportive environment. Supported means we are here for each other and provide the resources necessary to ensure everyone can be their best and return home safely at the end of every day. When we’re connected and supported, we are able to be more present and focused at work. We are better able to build a culture and workplace where everyone feels safe. The more we stay connected and committed, the more we can show up fully to support one another and our clients.

HPMers across the country will spend time this week discussing daily ‘Toolbox Talks,’ emphasizing the role we play in creating a safe environment, whether at the office, job site or at home with our friends and families. We encourage you to join us by being mindful of potential hazards at your workplace, as well as by making safety a priority at home. When was the last time you checked the batteries in your smoke detectors or restocked your personal first aid kit? May Safety Week 2022 be a reminder to stay connected, supported, and safe in order to eliminate hazards. Happy Safety Week!

The Art of Being a Local Expert in Aviation Program Management

Posted on April 27, 2022

Since HPM’s inception, understanding what our clients want and how we can use available resources to bring their dynamic projects to fruition has been at the core of what we do. It is crucial to have a comprehensive understanding of regional conditions such as weather, available labor, and permitting processes, and how we can leverage this knowledge to protect our clients from scheduling delays and increased material costs. HPM has established itself as a local expert through our extensive experience providing program management for aviation and aerospace initiatives, such as the Airbus FAL USA project, and specialized support to our clients.

Leveraging Your Network

As a local expert, one of the most crucial steps is to develop a strong network of trusted contacts whom you can count on throughout each stage of a project. Before a contract is even signed, HPM conducts a market analysis to determine what the labor pool and resource availability look like in the local region. To begin cultivating market interest early on, we also hold town meetings to identify local and regional contractors. Acting as a mediator between the client and local stakeholders, HPM’s project managers can utilize these pre-qualified contacts during the project lifecycle to keep construction timelines on track.

Building Trust

HPM engages in consistent and open communication with a small group of officials at the city and county levels, such as the chief building inspector, fire marshall and the Department of Environmental Management and the US Army Corp of Engineers to discuss the project’s goals and plans. We also build strong, working relationships with the local area district offices of the FAA. By building a rapport with local officials, HPM can get the appropriate person’s attention if an issue arises because a solid foundation of trust in our work has been built over time.

“Trust starts with how you treat people, and if you treat people with respect, they will respect you back,” says Larry Hipsh, program director at HPM. “Our company also ensures that we remain transparent with our clients about the state of a project and explain complex processes and situations in a way that is easily understood. The meaningful relationships and trust we have built with all of the partners and clients we have worked with are what keeps HPM’s engine running and maintains a pattern of success for all parties involved.”

Case Study: Airbus US Manufacturing Facility – Mobile, AL

HPM provided and continues to provide program management services for the development and implementation of the Airbus A320 Final Assembly Line program that began in 2013, the A220 Final Assembly Line beginning in 2018 and the current expansion which started in early 2022 at Brookley Aeroplex in Mobile, Alabama. With its operations office located in multiple countries in Europe, Airbus looked to HPM and our partner Mott MacDonald for our understanding of both U.S. customs and regulations as well as specific nuances of the area of Mobile, including its complex permitting process. HPM took the time to understand the client’s communication style to ensure they understood our messaging and were satisfied with the results we provided them.

“HPM’s team in Mobile both lives and operates close to the Airbus project, and we had a passion to positively impact the footprint and skyline of our own backyard,” says Foster Veazey, project manager at HPM. “Having this established presence in the same neighborhood that our client was operating in allowed us to use a boots-on-the-ground approach and be by their side throughout every phase of the project.”

Because HPM is dedicated to providing comprehensive program management services, we can remain flexible to meet our client’s needs as they change and evolve. For the Airbus project, our team had a hard deadline which, if missed, would incur heavy fines for our client. Despite having to work remotely with the Airbus team, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, HPM successfully completed the project ahead of schedule.

HPM looks beyond the basic needs of our clients and instead focuses on building a custom “one-size-fits-one” approach for each client to meet their specific expectations and needs while addressing any pain points they may have going into a project. We serve as an owner’s representative and advisor from the beginning to the end and beyond. Our people care about each other and the work we do. This is what makes the difference for our clients. HPM doesn’t treat projects like a line item on a profitability spreadsheet but instead goes the extra mile to become a local expert and a valuable asset to each of our clients.

Do you have an ambitious schedule and challenging budget for your capital building project? That’s our specialty! Please explore our aviation portfolio and reach out. We would love to connect with you.

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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Finger on the Pulse: Complex Aviation Projects Require Specialized Program Managers

Posted on April 20, 2022

By Andrew Betts, HPM Senior Program Manager

For nearly 15 years, HPM has been a trusted partner for leaders in the aviation and aerospace sectors. Our capabilities ensure aviation clients can achieve the speed-to-market needed to stay ahead in the industry. HPM’s experience with major players, including Airbus, AAR and Boom Supersonic, places us at the forefront of innovation in this space and allows us to provide onsite, day-to-day management tailored to fit the industry’s needs.

As program manager, HPM works alongside aerospace and aviation owners undertaking major construction projects by supporting pre-planning and site selection, coordinating delivery schedules, aligning budgets and streamlining communication for all partners involved, from design to supplies to construction. Our specialized expertise allows our clients to have peace of mind during major investments, no matter the market conditions.

When working in aviation, there are specific challenges that inevitably arise no matter how much preparation happens beforehand. As industry experts, it is our job to know how to employ the right techniques and protocols to combat these issues and avoid setbacks to project completions. Accountability and experience are key in determining success for our clients.

New Projects Mean New Obstacles to Consider

Projected growth in the aviation sector means that many companies will remain very active with new construction across the country. Site selection is a major first step for these projects, especially for ground-up initiatives. While airports continue to grow, available land is diminishing. Program managers must look closely at land sources as limitations remain on where new facilities can be located in proximity to runways. Access to nearby labor also remains crucial, especially in the wake of an ongoing labor shortage.

Like many other industries, aviation is also facing supply chain-related challenges, which have negatively impacted product procurement and pricing. Commodity markets have been hard hit, and large hangars require specialized materials that take longer to secure than typical equipment (a problem even before the pandemic). Some vendors don’t offer pricing commitments until the product is shipped, meaning that closer consideration should be put into contract drafting to protect owners from potentially devastating impacts.

While lead times have grown and prices have risen, permitting has also become more complex. In some markets, it now can take over a year to obtain the approvals needed, causing yet another hurdle for owners to navigate in the initial stages and underscoring the need for a program manager who understands the complexities of these regulations and how to mitigate the impacts.

These headwinds make clear the importance of preplanning and coordination between design and construction teams — which is right where our specialty lies. We take the reins to minimize uncertainty and put owners at ease with the trajectory of their project plans.

Ensuring Success Through A Trusted Program Manager

Engaging a program manager as soon as possible is critical to ensuring a smooth process from material procurement to execution. Our experts at HPM know the ins and outs of the aviation industry and can support owners every step of the way, drawing on decades of experience. Understanding the nuances of different aircraft and airports, understanding location-specific challenges, knowing the regulatory environment and having the right relationships is vital to the success of these projects. At HPM, we are constantly developing new strategies for earlier product procurement and working to engage partners before any boots meet the ground.

As the industry continues to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, owners should stay diligent and adaptable. Despite a multitude of challenges, MRO within aviation and aerospace is growing and is expected to return to pre-pandemic levels by 2024, according to Oliver Wyman’s Global Fleet & MRO Forecast 2022-2023. HPM remains at the forefront of aviation’s evolution, keeping our fingers on the pulse of innovation, pricing and the supply chain so that our clients only see the best possible outcomes.

Do you have an ambitious schedule and challenging budget for your capital building project? That’s our specialty. If your project could benefit from our services, please explore our aviation portfolio and reach out! We would love to connect with you.

Tag: project management

Team HPM oversees preconstruction and construction services for 142,000-square-foot facility housing learning hotel, restaurant, training labs and more.

New Projects Mean New Obstacles to Consider

Ensuring Success Through A Trusted Program Manager

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