Egan Company’s commitment to safety was recognized at the Governor’s Safety Awards Luncheon during the Minnesota Safety & Health Conference. Egan received four Governor’s Safety Awards for achieving safety records better than the 2015 industry average, including an Outstanding Achievement award and three Meritorious Achievement awards!
Archive for the ‘Compass Newsletter’ Category
Clean, Safe, and Controlled
Wednesday, June 1st, 2016Prefabrication of two, self-contained utility rooms minimizes safety hazards
Is it possible to create a work environment where safety hazards are at a minimum and work is still completed efficiently? Well, start by thinking inside the box. At least, that’s what Egan Company did for one of Wolf Material Handling Systems’ customers.
The customer: a sustainable waste and energy solutions company. Their facility, located on the East Coast, was in need of several new features: a power distribution center (PDC), a motor control center (MCC), and a large air compressor. They also needed to preserve the longevity of these additions, so keeping out damaging materials was a priority. Working with Wolf, Egan’s team of mechanical, electrical, and process controls experts thought of an innovative idea that incorporated two of Egan’s strengths: safety and prefabrication.
Utilizing decommissioned shipping containers, Egan’s team developed two self-contained utility rooms that held all essential equipment, but would insulate it from any damaging materials in the customer’s facility. The best part about this plan: all work could be completed within our Egan facility, allowing for a controlled work environment that reduced many potential safety risks. In addition, this meant there was no need for permanent construction onsite.
The PDC container received the PLC panel and MCC, which basically created two walls of electrical distribution and controls. Employees would be visiting the interior on a regular basis, so features like fire alarm, air-conditioning, and LED lighting were also included.
A 4,000-lb air compressor was added to the other container. Egan’s mechanical team arranged the pieces and added sheet metal ducts to allow air to travel out of the container and into the customer’s own duct system.
Egan Services Provided: design, engineering, and installation of sheet metal ducts, air compressor, power distribution center, motor control center, LED lighting, fire alarm, and HVAC
Filling the Minneapolis Skyline
Tuesday, March 22nd, 2016Look at the Minneapolis skyline and it becomes obvious: the construction industry is booming. New office buildings, high-rise apartments, sports arenas, and hotels are popping up all over Downtown Minneapolis. And in one small block off South Fourth Street and South Marquette Avenue on Nicollet Mall, Egan Company’s InterClad team has completed three major projects since 2014: Nic on Fifth Apartments, 4Marq Apartments, and Xcel Energy @ 401 Nicollet.
Nic on Fifth Apartments
Completed in August 2014, the Nic on Fifth is the first high-rise luxury apartment development in downtown Minneapolis in nearly three decades. With world-class amenities and sleek architecture, this building offers premium Minneapolis hospitality. As a bonus, the building also features a variety of sustainable elements giving it LEED Silver Certification.
Egan’s InterClad team provided a variety of aesthetic features to this 300,000 square foot, 26-story luxury apartment complex. Installations included exterior windows and aluminum-glazed curtainwall, as well as some interior storefronts, glass handrails, and miscellaneous glass and mirrors.
“The timeline on this project was challenging because the winter of 2013 was rough,” said Paul Rudell, InterClad Senior Project Manager. “We were dealing with the Polar Vortex during this time, so there were some construction delays.”
Despite the weather challenges, this project was still completed in time for residents to move in September 2014.
Core Project Team: Opus Development Company, Opus Design Build, Opus AE Group, Elness Swenson Graham Architects, Inc., Founders Properties, Nicollet Residences
4Marq Apartments
As InterClad’s largest metal panel job ever completed to date, the 30-story 4Marq Apartments make an impressive addition to the downtown Minneapolis landscape. InterClad’s portion of the work was completed in November 2015, and 4Marq is currently leasing apartments.
On the first six floors of the building, Egan’s InterClad team engineered, fabricated, and installed perforated metal parking garage panels, corrugated screen wall panels, and flush seam ribbon panels. On the remaining 24 stories, metal panels were mounted on the corners of the building.
“The most challenging part of this project was the level of detail in each architectural element,” said InterClad Project Manager Todd Fechner. “The perforated metal parking garage panels had a very specific design that we had to engineer, fabricate, and install exactly to specifications.”
A total of 843 panels standing at 9.5 feet tall and 4 feet wide were prefabricated in InterClad’s shop.
“The building had three different colors of metal panels, and two of the colors were very similar, so it made it difficult to tell between the two at times,” said Troy Doble, InterClad Shop Manager.
Though the prefabrication did make installation easier, a color and pattern was agreed upon in advance of installation, so Egan’s InterClad team had to pay close attention to detail when installing each individual panel.
“It was a challenge keeping the perforated metal panels in the proper order, but with good planning from everyone on the team, the finished product looked great,” said Tad Hitchings, InterClad Project Foreman.
Core Project Team: M.A. Mortenson Company, UrbanWorks Architecture, Mortenson Development, Inc.
Xcel Energy @ 401 Nicollet
Located directly across from Xcel Energy’s corporate headquarters, a new nine-story building is currently under construction. The building will provide Xcel with an impressive two-building campus, and features a contemporary architectural design that reflects the style of surrounding buildings.
Egan’s InterClad team is providing curtainwall, metal panels, storefront interior glazing, interior waterfall glass, hand rails, and glass/glazing.
The overarching challenge with this project has been limited space to work, causing the team to have to think creatively about how to install the various elements.
“We have limited access to the street, so everyone on the job works in the same small area,” said Mike Kush, InterClad Project Foreman. “It requires coordinating work schedules, but Opus has been great to work with, especially with this challenge.”
Due to a lack of space on the ground to store large equipment and machinery, the team performs all glass installation and glazing while standing inside the building. To accomplish this, all materials were prefabricated in the InterClad shop and then delivered to the jobsite, with the exception of the glass glazed in the field.
“There’s virtually no storage on the ground in downtown Minneapolis, so prefabrication is essential to the success of our projects,” Rudell said.
In addition to work on the exterior of the new building, Egan’s InterClad team is also providing glass for a skyway system that connects Xcel Energy’s existing corporate headquarters across the street to the new building.
InterClad’s work will be done in March 2016, and the building is slated for occupancy in July 2016.
Core Project Team: Opus Development Company, Opus Design Build, Opus AE Group, Xcel Energy
Three Projects, One Block Downtown
Working in a busy downtown setting does present some challenges. Lack of ground storage is a major problem, but traffic can also be challenging in a downtown setting. Many roads and sidewalks are closed around the jobsites for safety. And often material and equipment deliveries can only be scheduled during a set timeframe.
“Overall, the downtown area has been good to us the past few years,” said Egan Company Senior Vice President Tim Woolworth. “These three projects on this block showcase the diversity in our work and capabilities. We’re looking forward to working on another block in Minneapolis soon.”
Local Expansion Helps CHS Grow
Thursday, December 17th, 2015
Minnesota is the fourth-largest agricultural exporting state in the country. About 54 percent (or 27.6M acres) of the state consists of farmland. That’s close to the total acreage of Tennessee (26.9M acres). For home-grown grain products, Cenex Harvest States (CHS), a Minnesota-based multinational agricultural cooperative, relies on a vast network of roads, railways, and river transit to export around the world.
An important step in the distribution process is the system of grain-handling terminals, or “grain elevators,” where corn, soybean, and wheat can be stored and later moved onto river barges by conveyors. In 1982, CHS opened a multiple commodity grain-handling terminal in Savage, Minn., with a storage capacity of 560,000 bushels (or roughly 31.4 million lbs. if using only corn). That capacity more than doubled this past year with the construction of a new 801,000-bushel bin.
CHS moves more than two billion bushels of grain annually, so efficiency is key. Without an efficient transportation network, farmers could not compete on an international scale. That’s why expansions must be strategic and well executed.
When it came time to choose who would provide automation for the new bin, CHS Savage Terminal Manager Greg Oberle knew Egan held a distinct advantage.
“The work that Paul Meier [Project Manager], Todd Voth [Electrical Foreman], Darin Shaw [Electrical Foremen], Joe Trosen [Controls Engineer], and Mark Thomas [Electrical Foreman] have performed for us is outstanding,” said Oberle. “We already knew they were a good fit for the expansion, based on past experience.”
The experience Oberle mentions is in reference to a full-scale software update that occurred in 1999. The then-current PLC/3 control system had become out-of-date. CHS hired technicians from Industrial Electric (since acquired by Egan) to upgrade the system with new ControlLogix and RSView software. After a successful installation, the business relationship continued to stay strong through the years.
“The whole operation has been Egan’s baby since the update,” said Oberle. “The Egan crew works hard to make sure they come to me with solutions, not just issues. That kind of relationship is what wins you the first major expansion to this facility since it opened in 1982.”
The new bin is a 105
-foot wide cylinder that stands 99-feet tall at the eve and 128 feet at its peak. Egan installed two new motor control centers for product supply and control motors for conveyance to-and-from the new bin. Todd Voth, who lives in the area and is frequently called on by CHS to tend to the facility’s many-faceted needs, played a key role in the technology integration effort.
“Automation-wise, grain elevators are definitely more complex than most people might think,” Voth said. “It’s a process with many coordinated steps to move grain that efficiently, and any missteps can lead to angry grain haulers and lost business.”
The substantial increase in storage frees up business options for CHS. Deliveries that used to have to wait until a barge arrived can now freely move product to the facility without delay. The new bin is also designed to help railroad cars load more efficiently.
The bin officially opened in May 2015, after five months of construction. The facility can now efficiently store and manage about 1.36 million bushels of grain product, and continues to receive dedicated service from Egan personnel.
Egan Services Provided: Installation of two new motor control centers for product supply and control motors for conveyance to-and-from the new bin.
Sustained support for MN healthcare
Wednesday, December 16th, 2015
When Egan & Sons Company was founded in 1945, Costney, Bill, Joseph, and (later) Gerald Egan depended on mechanical expertise. Since then, Egan Company has evolved to include services across virtually every corner of specialty contracting.
Some industries are just discovering Egan’s capabilities, whereas others, like the local healthcare industry, are well-acquainted with Egan as a multi-trade resource. This Minnesota medical landscape has seen many changes over the years, and healthcare facilities have looked to Egan’s experience and knowledge to accommodate the industry’s needs.
Understanding Healthcare Risks
In the atmosphere of a hospital or clinic, special attention must be paid to the infrastructure to ensure patient care isn’t hindered. Many work sites are sealed off by plastic barriers before work is performed, and Egan follows the Infection Control Risk Assessment (ICRA) protocol to enforce extra precaution.
“When you have a heavily-controlled area like a hospital, you need to align with established procedures and be aware of potential risks because you’re working around people when they’re most vulnerable,” said Larry Hanson, Egan Company Safety Director.
In some cases, tools and equipment are decontaminated and remain onsite until work is completed. Egan employees have even worn full scrub gowns and facemasks at places like the world-renowned Mayo Clinic.
High-Tech, Critical Work
The Mayo Clinic’s Rochester, Minn. campus has grown at a blistering pace. In the past few years, it has completed a state-of-the-art proton beam therapy cancer treatment center and announced a $6-billion Destination Medical Center.
Nietz Electric, a brand of Egan Company, has provided electrical service to Mayo since the early 1980s for a variety of high-profile spaces.
“We install and service Mayo’s non-cookie-cutter projects,” said Jeff Young, Nietz Vice President and General Manager. “The challenges it faces are multi-faceted, even by industry standards, and that’s why Mayo calls us. We have the resources and the specialty expertise to take care of its needs, no matter how unique.”
For multiple facilities, nearly all electrical work to Mayo’s medical-intensive spaces is performed by Nietz. This includes rooms for operating, exams, ultrasounds, research labs, emergency rooms, radiology, and CT scan centers. This past year, proton beam therapy room was added to that list when Egan finished out the electrical infrastructure in the Richard O. Jacobson Building.
In addition to electrical work performed by Nietz, Egan has also provided services for new construction, renovation, and upgrade projects for Mayo Clinic inside and outside the Rochester campus, including places like Cannon Falls, Minneapolis, Mankato, St. Peter, and St. James. This work includes mechanical, building automation, fire/life safety systems, as well as curtainwall/glazing/metal panels. In addition, Egan continually provides ongoing maintenance to various Mayo Clinic facilities in Minnesota.
The Twin Cities area hosts many healthcare facilities that partner with Egan Company. One particular facility has relied as much on Egan’s longevity as its specialty services for its day-to-day operations.
Decades of Proactive Support
At North Memorial Medical Center in Robbinsdale, Minn., Egan Company has maintained a full-time presence for over thirty years. The relationship is built on comprehensive building knowledge, leading to gains for the hospital.
“Our team fully understands its mechanical systems. It helps us foresee potential issues and operate without hindering [North Memorial’s] staff,” said Egan Company Project Manager Shawn Kubinski.
A hospital’s mechanical network encounters typical problems like plumbing backups, but it is further complicated by the medical gas systems that flow throughout the building, such as oxygen, nitrous oxide, or carbon dioxide. Working with these gases requires special certifications. But it takes more than certifications to do exceptional work for a fast-paced hospital. North Memorial’s Engineering Services Supervisor, Andy Baumtrog, attributes the success to Egan’s steadfast, proactive team.
“They do a great job of taking care of us and bringing good ideas to the table,” said Baumtrog. “Credit to Shawn Kubinski [Project Manager], Rick Johnson [Sheet Metal Foreman], Steve Rother [Plumbing Foreman], Scott Degel [Plumbing Foreman], Shawn Collette [Pipefitting Foreman] and Egan’s Service crew.”
Minnesota’s healthcare infrastructure has grown beyond recognition compared to the days of the Egan brothers. Now more than ever, healthcare facilities will need specialized support as they work to care for the millions of patients who walk through their doors annually.
Celebrating 70 Years of Project Expertise
Monday, December 14th, 2015From the historic W Minneapolis – The Foshay to the modern Metro Transit Light Rail System, the partnerships and projects that make up Egan Company’s 70 years of local business are too numerous to mention. We are proud to contribute to the great state of Minnesota, and we plan to continue working to create more meaningful relationships and projects for years to come.
Metro Transit Light Rail Systems
After providing electrical work on the Hiawatha Light Rail (Blue Line) project running from Target Field to Mall of America, Egan was asked to provide electrical services for the Central Corridor Light Rail (Green Line) project. Stretching 11 miles and linking Downtown Minneapolis to Downtown St. Paul, this is the largest public works project in state history. Pictured is University Avenue in 1957 and today.
Photo Credit: Minnesota Historical Society
W Minneapolis – The Foshay
Once the tallest building in Minnesota, The Foshay was constructed in 1929. Since then, it has undergone many renovations, including being converted into a 32-story “W” hotel. During this renovation, Egan provided Design/Build electrical work, fire alarm, security, and close circuit TV monitoring for the hotel. The hotel also receives ongoing maintenance from Egan.
Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP)
In 80 years, MSP Airport has undergone many changes. For a number of years, Egan has provided contracting services to the renovation and upgrading of the airport. Most recently, the airport installed new runway status lights, curtainwall/metal wall panels, and an open architecture building automation system. Pictured is the airport in 1962.
Photo Credit: Minnesota Historical Society
Anoka County Government Center
Many of Anoka County’s government offices are housed in the Government Center & Courthouse, a building where Egan installed the original building automation system, fire alarms, card access, and data cabling. Ongoing maintenance and upgrades are also provided for the building. Pictured is the Anoka County Courthouse in 1878 and the Government Center & Courthouse today.
Photo Credit: Anoka County Historical Society
IDS Center
Constructed in 1972, the IDS Center is the tallest building in Minnesota. Egan installed the mechanical systems when the building was first constructed. More recently, the IDS Center has utilized Egan to upgrade voice/data, fiber optic cabling, sound system, and provide ongoing maintenance throughout the building.
Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building
The B.H. Whipple Federal Building has undergone many renovations. Most recently, a state-of-the-art geothermal mechanical heating and cooling system, solar roof array, and large hot water storage tanks were installed and tied into one building automation system; Egan’s InterClad team also replaced 720 windows. The building also receives ongoing building automation maintenance, and regular gas detection and backflow preventer testing from Egan.
Minneapolis Convention Center
Originally the Minneapolis Auditorium, the Convention Center was constructed in 1989, with Egan providing mechanical services on the project. Since then, Egan continually provides ongoing electrical services and maintenance to the 800,000 square foot complex. Pictured is the Minneapolis Convention Center in 1966 and today.
Photos Credit: Minnesota Historical Society and Tony Webster
A Tradition of Paying it Forward
Friday, August 28th, 2015So much is changing in the construction industry, but some values never quite lose their luster. Notions like family, community, and charity, for example, are as prevalent today as they were in 1945 when Egan Company was founded.
For the past 70 years, Egan has been actively involved in the community by rallying employees to support generous causes, and the first half of 2015 was no different as employees collaborated with Twin Cities-based Hearts & Hammers for the thirteenth time and participated once again in a local food-packing competition through the non-profit, Matter.
New Life to an Old Home
“Remodel” is a word that gets thrown around a lot at Egan. Usually, it pertains to a commercial project. But last May, Egan employees partnered with Hearts & Hammers for a different kind of remodel; one that would transform the house of an elderly Minneapolis resident.
There were more than 40 Egan employees in attendance, including Egan Leaders, and field and office personnel. We spent the morning and afternoon fixing up and repainting the house. The house had survived years of wear-and-tear, including a fire on the front porch years ago.
“This year was one of the first that we’ve had an all-Egan team, so it was great to see everyone participate and work together to help out someone in need,” said Jim Malecha, Egan Company President & CEO.
A fresh coat of paint took off years from the house and garage’s façade, and the backyard is now transformed with an all-new walking path, a reinforced deck, and a neat little sitting area inside a newly refurbished garden.
“I’ve been here 47 years and I just can’t believe it’s my house,” said Katherine, homeowner.
Packing Meals for Healthy Competition
A food-packing competition was held through Matter, a local nonprofit, to support local children and families in need of nutritious meals.
Eight teams of Egan employees raced to pack meals, and the competition was fierce, with teams rushing to arrange and seal boxes as quickly as possible within a time limit. When the final tallies were counted, the winning team came out on top after packing 81 total boxes.
“This event was for a good cause to help provide food for kids in food deserts in the Twin Cities,” said Nick Ravetto, Egan Company Safety Coordinator. “It also brought together people at Egan for a great team-building event.”
Ninety-five Egan employees attended the event and packed 695 boxes, which amounted to 3,475 meals. Quenton Marty, President of Matter, said the boxes Egan packed would provide over a week and half of meals to students in local free lunch programs.
The group (and individual) efforts of Egan volunteers have been a lasting source of pride throughout all seventy years of the company’s existence. Each day brings more opportunities, and each day we hope to continue our rich tradition of supporting the local community.
Progress for Vital Research
Friday, August 28th, 2015
Southern Minnesota is a recognized leader in providing top quality healthcare with the Mayo Clinic Health System and various medical research facilities scattered throughout. Nietz Electric, a brand of Egan Company, is at the forefront in providing electrical work to the area, including a recent project for Hormel Institute’s cancer research facility in Austin, Minn.
The Hormel Institute is a biomedical research center focused on the prevention and control of cancer and other chronic diseases. It is funded by the Hormel Foundation and an official research unit for the University of Minnesota.
Nietz and McGough Construction began a 74,000-square-foot addition to the existing facility in October 2014, enabling the Hormel Institute to become a part of the emerging Bioscience Corridor in Southern Minnesota. The expansion will provide new facilities for elite scientists and doctors to continue cancer research.
This project includes a three-story addition that adds 20 state-of-the-art cancer research laboratories, each ran by individual doctors. The expansion doubles the number of available labs and is also LEED Gold Certified.
“We have extensive experience on healthcare-related projects, so this project is right in our wheel house,” said Bob Gransee, Nietz Project Manager. “Each research lab has its own electrical panel so each can be an independent, stand-alone research lab with its own staff and funding source.”
Low-voltage electrical will be completed, including fire alarm, voice/data, and security systems. All work is also being completed while the existing building is currently occupied, making some elements of the project difficult.
“It has been challenging for us to perform shutdowns—in order to tie new panels into the existing circuits—while still having the building in full operation,” said Dean Hogstad, Nietz Foreman.
The project is scheduled to be completed in November 2015. In order to meet this deadline, Nietz prefabricated many elements of the electrical infrastructure to save time and money.
Nietz was also awarded a 250-seat auditorium and multifunction room on the same campus. This lecture hall will become the new Live Learning Center and will feature up-to-date communication technology for broadcasting and online conferencing. The goal is to provide a place for researchers to participate in presentations and discussions with other scientists from anywhere in the world.
The Hormel Foundation, Mayo Clinic, and University of Minnesota are collaborating in order to make this Bioscience Corridor a reality for the State. Focusing on bioscience and medical research helps to spur economic growth in other major Minnesota cities, like Rochester or Austin, and attract a variety of potential employees to the area.
Core Project Team: McGough Construction, The Hormel Foundation, Mayo Clinic, University of Minnesota
Egan Services Performed: Electrical infrastructure, low-voltage electrical, fire alarm, voice/data, and security systems.
Egan Expands Reach in Southern Minnesota
Thursday, August 27th, 2015In an effort to enhance market position as a provider of electrical and systems integration in Southern Minnesota, Egan Company acquired Austin, Minn.-based Kestner Electric in July 2015.
“Kestner Electric and Egan Company have a strong relationship through the National Electrical Contractors Association and Local Union IBEW 343,” said Jeff Young, Vice President of Nietz Electric, a brand of Egan Company. “Kestner [Electric] will help Egan expand the ability to provide high levels of service to customers in a wider region of Southern Minnesota.”
With this strong relationship, Egan and Kestner Electric will work together to offer single-source expertise to Kestner Electric customers, which may include UL508A panel construction, mechanical, millwrights, electrical construction, low voltage technology installation, and other building systems.
Kestner Electric has built its business on reputation and long-term commitment to assisting various customers achieve their objectives. With Egan, we can serve customers even better.
– Kevin Kestner, Former Kestner Electric Co-Owner