Commercial Remodeling in Lincoln – June 2023

Almost everyone is attracted to a new, fresh look. From new technology to a revamped office space, remodeling is a great way to give new life to an old space. Not only does remodeling cut costs in comparison to building new, but allow for businesses to show creativity and express themselves in little ways periodically.

If you are thinking of spicing things up, commercial remodeling projects are a great way to freshen up your look. Don’t hesitate to take advantage of the many resources available in Lincoln, ranging from details as small as light fixtures to as large as infrastructure. Regardless of your vision, Lincoln has you covered.

Revolutionizing Concrete

Merritt Concrete’s volumetric concrete mixer trucks play a crucial role in commercial construction projects. Not only do they provide efficient and flexible on-site concrete production, but customizable mix designs, flexible batch sizes, on-time delivery, cost and time savings and reduced environmental impact as well. These services make them valuable assets for commercial construction projects, offering efficiency, flexibility and sustainability like never before.

Because volumetric concrete mixer trucks are equipped with a specialized mixing system that allows them to produce fresh concrete on-site, on-site concrete mixing takes the construction process to the next level. Carrying the necessary ingredients – aggregates, cement, water and additives – in separate compartments and mixing them in precise proportions as needed enables the production of customized concrete mixes tailored to specific project requirements.

“Reducing environmental impact is a top priority on commercial construction projects. On-site concrete production with volumetric mixers contributes to a smaller environmental footprint,” said general manager Terry Howell, “By producing concrete as needed, there is a reduction in transportationrelated emissions and the associated energy consumption. Additionally, customizing the mix design and avoiding over-ordering helps minimize material waste, promoting sustainable construction practices.”

Customizable mix designs are critical for commercial construction because jobs often demand different types of concrete mixes, such as high-strength concrete, self-consolidating concrete or colored concrete. Volumetric mixer trucks can adjust the mix design during the pouring process, allowing contractors to modify the concrete’s composition on-site to meet project specifications and achieve desired performance characteristics. This ultimately saves time and money, streamlining the construction process.

Volumetric mixing trucks offer several cost and time-saving benefits. Contractors can eliminate the expenses of ordering ready-mixed concrete from external suppliers and paying for unused concrete. The ability to adjust the mix design and batch sizes on-site also minimizes material waste and provides greater control over project timelines.

Experts that Care

At Kingery Construction, they provide full-service construction solutions, from pre-construction through project completion. Their mission is to deliver an exceptional level of professionalism, integrity and honesty, while also providing cost-effective solutions in a timely manner. With their team’s exceptional management skills and strong work ethic, they guarantee the highest-quality workmanship on every project. Kingery highly values their relationships and are committed to maintaining the trust and respect of employees, project owners, vendors and partners.

“Over the years, we have successfully completed projects through a variety of processes, including Design Build, Design Bid Build, Construction Management and as General Contractor,” said Director of Construction Operations Jen Cowher. “Our experience, combined with our dedication to excellence, enables us to meet and exceed our clients’ expectations on every project.”

Kingery prides themselves on staying up-todate on improvements and new trends in the construction industry.

“Virtual construction remains in high demand as more owners recognize the benefits of BIM (Building Information Modeling), not only for reducing errors during construction, but also for maintenance after construction is completed,” Jen explained. “This technology provides a 3D digital representation of the building that includes all its components and systems, allowing for more accurate planning and visualization.”

In addition to BIM, there are now programs like Matterport that are designed to document the construction process through photos and videos. This technology provides a virtual tour of the building during each stage of construction, allowing stakeholders to monitor progress and identify potential issues before they become major problems.

“Overall, the continued development of virtual construction technology is helping to make construction projects more efficient, cost-effective, and sustainable,” continued Jen. “As these technologies continue to evolve, we can expect to see even more innovative solutions that will transform the way we build and maintain our infrastructure.”

Kingery Construction takes pride in the variety of projects they have completed and are currently working on. One of their current projects is the final phase of construction at the Lincoln Regional Center, where they are improving patient safety. They are also excited to be renovating Lefler Middle School to provide students with improved classroom and lunchroom facilities. The Omaha Kingery team is currently working on several projects including Ralston High School, Mockingbird Community Center, and D.B. Property/ Voss Electric.

In recent years, the drive for environmentally friendly products and projects has increased. Many consumers are beginning to prioritize companies that use these eco-friendly processes, even at a slightly larger cost.

“Sustainable, eco-friendly building materials are still in high demand, and at Kingery Construction, we recognize the importance of utilizing such materials whenever possible,” Jen explained. “In projects where owners desire to prioritize sustainability, we have found that many green materials are only minimally more expensive than traditional building materials.”

As construction costs, material supply and workforce challenges continue to be concerns in the industry, Kingery has the expertise and ability to assess each project and find cost-effective alternatives without compromising quality or sustainability. Their commitment to providing excellent service and innovative solutions allows them to deliver projects that meet both their clients’ and their own high standards of quality and sustainability.

“Kingery Construction is thrilled to announce our expansion into the Omaha market through the acquisition of Construct Inc,” shared Jen. “This move aligns with our strategic goal of delivering exceptional commercial construction services to the communities of Nebraska. By integrating the expertise and knowledge of Construct Inc.’s employees in Omaha, we are confident that Kingery Construction will maintain our position as a premier provider of construction services for many years to come.”

Remodel to Bring Workers Back to the Office, Attract and Retain Talent

AOI Corporation offers solutions for the built environment through their construction, furniture, and premanufactured construction groups. They’ve recently been seeing a lot of traction with their pre-manufactured interior construction group because it is perfectly suited to address the major issues that continue to face the industry – labor shortages, intermittent supply chain issues and unpredictable project costs. We sat down with Vice President of Business Development Patrick Jensen to learn more about what AOI has been seeing as of late.

“Post COVID, businesses are working hard to bring people back to the office and give them the kind of workspace they desire. Couple that with the hot competition for talent and attracting and retaining talent is still paramount for the companies we work with,” shared Patrick. “The pandemic changed the way people want to work and their expectations of what a workspace should deliver. If companies don’t adapt and adjust, they will most certainly lose out to the ones who are demonstrating that they value their employees.”

Patrick cautioned that building owners must be flexible with their expectations, budgets and design choices when remodeling their structure. Intermittent supply chain issues are still a factor as is the increased cost of labor and materials. The changing availability of materials coupled with the tight labor market means costs can be unpredictable, which extends project durations and increases budgets. AOI mitigates these challenges by having alternative options ready to go for clients, who must also be able to make decisions quickly to eliminate any potential impact to their budget and schedule.

“AOI is unique because of what we offer with regard to interior renovation. We are the only general contractor that has a construction group along with a full-service furniture dealership – MillerKnoll – and pre-manufactured construction group – DIRTT,” Patrick explained. “This gives us the ability to be neutral with regard to solutions that fit clients’ needs. We don’t know whether the solution to their issues will be something a construction solution solves, or if a furniture solution may solve it, or if their issue is better served with a pre-manufactured approach – or maybe it is the combination of all three. That’s why our products and services are available individually or combined as part of a holistic approach developed in close collaboration with our clients and their design teams. We are trying to truly meet their needs, rather than offer solutions that pigeonhole them into ours.”

If you’re a first-time remodeler, Patrick recommends partnering with a design team and general contractor you can trust. They are going to be your advocates for purchasing construction services and providing you with the best solutions to achieve your goals, while driving your project to fruition. For the time that they are engaged with you on your project, they should act – and be treated – as an extension of your business.

Your Construction Partner for Life

As an employee-owned firm that has been in business for over 60 years, you can be assured that Cheever Construction will deliver on their promises. They’ve completed numerous renovations, historical renovations and new construction projects since their start. For each project, decisions on many different aspects will affect the ultimate outcome.

“While there are many different delivery methods, the three that are most often used are design-bid-build, construction management and design build,” explained President Justin Kurtzer. “To start, in designbid-build delivery, a business owner hires an architect to design the remodel in full. They create both a plan and specifications to fulfill the owner’s program requirements. The project goes out for competitive bid to a select group of general contractors, or as ‘open-to-all.’”

Some of the advantages of design-bid-build include its single point of responsibility for construction, compliance with public bidding policies, construction documents that clearly define the scope of work, and a project cost that is established through the bidding process. As for the construction management approach, it begins with a business owner hiring a construction manager early in the planning process to provide pre-construction services; working with the architect and/or engineer (under separate contracts with the owner) to establish the project program, constructability and schedule; and establish benchmark budgets in a team environment.

“With a design-build approach, a business hires, under a single contract, the construction manager and design professional, which combine services to provide a single point of accountability for the entire project,” explained Justin. “The entity is responsible for delivering both the design documents and completing construction according to the owner’s requirements. Some advantages of this approach are that the contractor has input during design, the price is guaranteed, there is a single point of responsibility for construction, and design and construction can overlap to accelerate project delivery.

Whichever method you choose, Cheever Construction approaches each project with consistent objectives for success. They strive to make each project the precursor to the next project, while building a lasting relationship with everyone involved.

Lincoln’s Tile Maven

From kitchen backsplashes to entryway flooring to the shower walls, tile and stone are some of the most important details you’ll pick out when building. Choose wisely when selecting the tile and stone to put into your business – it can really make a difference on the outcome of the remodel! In this case, we recommend the professionals at Maven Tile & Stone.

They are a tile design studio that specializes in showcasing unique tiles and stones, as well as other commodity products. They offer both specialty and commodity products, and clients who purchase through Maven are offered Owner Lizett Nissenson’s tile design services at no charge. The store is open to both the general public and the trades. To make the building process even more convenient, job site delivery is also available at an additional charge.

“We strive to help you pick the product that is best for your individual needs and goals,” shared Lizett. “We are here to make your process easier, which includes answering the technical questions and doing walk-throughs on projects during non-business hours. Plus, clients that purchase through us are offered my tile design services at no charge.”

The hands-on tile design studio has samples available in their showroom and design center for builders who come in with a set of plans or property owners who want to get ideas and advice for their remodel. Some of the commercial projects Maven has been on before includes restaurants, yoga studios, med spas and hotels.

The hands-on tile design studio has samples available in their showroom and design center for remodelers who want to get ideas and advice for their next project.

Give Drab Concrete a New Look
Concrete Craft of Lincoln can provide a variety of solutions for both interior and exterior concrete. From basic flatwork needs, to decorative finishes with added color and texture their team is ready to help. Whether a new build or a remodel project, their decorative concrete finishes can bring that wow factor to your plain concrete floors. Looking for something a bit more elaborate or even adding your logo? Concrete Craft has you covered. Even if plain grey concrete meets your needs let them help you find the right finish for your concrete to ensure it is easy to maintain and long-lasting. With the variety of solutions they offer, Concrete Craft can work with you to find the best solutions for your budget. You don’t have to settle for plain when it comes to concrete finishes. A touch of color or a little shine can make all the difference.

Let the team at Concrete Craft help you transform your space and upgrade its overall appearance. Bringing decades of experience, continual employee training and using some of the highest quality products in the industry, their flooring solutions deliver premium results. Contact Concrete Craft today to discuss your concrete flooring needs. Their team is here ready to help!

Fresh Paint

Fresh coats of paint and on-trend aesthetics can help bring a business to life. If you aren’t looking to completely remodel your business, a new color may make a room look brand new. Remy Refinishing offers interior painting services specializing in cabinet painting.

An interior paint job can last a long time but eventually it looks dirty, scuffed up, and not fresh. This could make your business look dull or unclean. The world of paint continues to evolve faster than people realize. In the past few years many companies have come out with amazing products that prevent scuffs, are antibacterial, are zero VOC and have many other beneficial properties.

“I am a big fan of a newer product from Ben Moore called Scuff X. Their demo videos online show how it’s nearly impossible to leave those unsightly black scuff marks on walls painted with Scuff X,” Owner Jeremy Day shared. “It looks beautiful on a wall and it’s a tough durable finish that will keep a wall looking great for a long time.”

It’s beneficial to ask a knowledgeable painter what kinds of products are out there that can improve the look, feel and functionality of your business. Many painters use the same old products they are used to and never explore new paint technologies that can help you improve your business. Remy Refinishing is committed to evolving and growing with the current trends to provide you a space you can be proud of.

“When you invite people into your business, you want to make sure you are putting your best foot forward,” Jeremy said. ”Paint is one of the highest impact things you can do to make your space look beautiful and inviting to your employees and clients.”

For top-notch paint jobs and top-of-the-line customer service, look no further than Remy Refinishing!

Tackle Challenges Head-On

Tru-Built Construction is a big fan of taking an existing building and implementing some remodeling to create a fresh, dynamic workspace. Co-owner Bo Jones finds that remodeling can produce the same great benefits as a new building in a shorter timeframe and smaller price.

“Sometimes, the best option is to take an existing building and make improvements,” said Bo. “Our portfolio includes many different premier remodeling projects, such as the apartments at 1421 P St., the Willa Cather Museum, QP Ace Hardware on 27th St., the Aristos Apartments at 40th and Yankee Hill, the Grand Manse Penthouse Suite, LeadBelly and The Old Spaghetti Works building.”

One of their biggest and most notable renovation projects includes the former The Post & Nickel building. Tru-Built’s remodeling work turned the building in a mixed-use one that is now home to Chase Bank, Lululemon Athletica and Madida Clothing. In addition, it includes leased condos on the upper floors. The building is actually four separate buildings built side-by-side, offering Tru-Built a unique set of challenges. This included varying floor levels, split plumbing and electric and working on the remodel in the tight confines of the downtown area.

“Regardless of these challenges, we ended up with a unique building with some fabulous features,” Bo said. “We preserved some of the original elements, such as the floors and the old billboard ads on the brick walls, and we restored the big windows that had previously been filled in with brick over the years. You wouldn’t believe it’s the same building as years before – it’s a great example of what can be done through commercial remodeling.”

Since they began offering their services in the early 2000s, Tru-Built has grown larger, completed countless remodels, custom home projects and more. The Tru-Built reputation of having an expert team dedicated to high-quality work and making people’s vision come true is well-earned.

Save Energy, Save Money

Building automation – intelligent, data-enabled automated and related controls – continues to become more and more common in today’s commercial spaces. Engineered Controls offers affordable integrated building control and automation systems that make your buildings smarter and more efficient by providing essential instrumentation and control.

“These systems save energy, lower operational costs, and enable productive and secure environments,” explained Owner Pat Killeen. “Our building automation platforms connect your HVAC, lighting and safety and security systems, enabling them to talk to each other in a single language on a single platform. This gives you information to make better decisions, save money and improve the way your building functions.”

When conducting commercial remodeling, Engineered Controls can help you implement energy solutions to save money. As most building owners know, energy is the single largest expense in a building’s total operating budget. In fact, 30% is used inefficiently or unnecessarily. One of the best ways to keep those costs down is to develop a comprehensive strategy to reduce energy use.

“We offer a comprehensive energy evaluation program for our customers where our Energy and Environmental Optimization (EEO) program certified professionals are equipped with the training, tools, and experience to quickly assess your building’s current state and consult with you on the goals and objectives of your energy efficiency project,” Pat said. “Our EEO professionals participate in a rigorous training program learning how to guide building owners and managers through a structured process of analysis and discovery.”

Engineered Controls’ EEO program software identifies poorly performing buildings and then provides and automates corrective actions. Their EEO certified professionals can help accelerate implementation of the most popular energy conservation measures to optimize your facility.

“When you choose a partner for energy reduction projects, choose one with the experience and extensive product portfolio needed to customize the right plan for your building,” suggested Pat. “Stay up-to-date on energy rebates and incentives with a partner who is knowledgeable in these areas. At Engineered Controls, we design our solutions to be complete – saving money and energy, making sure you can meet required regulations while satisfying comfort, safety and convenience.”

Brighten Up

If you’re remodeling your building, don’t forget to include lighting in your project plan. The choices are endless, and the effects can really transform your space.

According to the National Electrical Contractors Association, less than 10% of electrical contractors nationally are owned by women, and Oak Electric, Inc is proud to be one of them. 100% owned and operated by Crystal Collins, she has intentional focus on her team to ensure everyone has what they need to be successful. This includes anything from a new tool in the field, skills and safety training, or administrative support. Her team of knowledgeable professionals are ready to help you get your home shining bright.

“Lighting is one of the most important things to think about in any building,” said Matt Collins, master electrician with Oak Electric. “For example, if you are investing thousands of dollars into a new workspace, why not invest a little more to install under-cabinet lights to showcase your new space? The same goes for bathrooms. You can install new lighting over the shower or bath area, and you might be surprised how much it showcases your investment.”

Matt says the most popular trend in indoor lighting today is strategically placed can lights. Another stunner is to design directional lighting to enhance artwork or photography that you have hanging on the walls. Don’t forget your exterior lighting, either.

“Lighting is equally important on the exterior of your business as it is on the inside,” Matt said. “Outside lighting provides safety after dark, and gives your space a more welcoming curb appeal.”

When you’re starting a project of just about any kind, Matt warned us that it’s absolutely crucial to make sure you know exactly how it will affect your building’s overall electrical workings to ensure the safety of you and your company.

“Before you start any project, please have a licensed electrician evaluate your building’s electrical panel to ensure that it can safely handle any and all upgrades.”

Evolve Your Walls

It’s amazing what a professional paint job can do for your home’s curb appeal. A fresh coat of paint, whether on the interior or exterior of your business, can be all a room needs. We highly recommend Walter’s Painting Inc. for all of your painting needs. They offer efficient, reliable service with minimal disruption to your commercial activity. If you want to make sure your painting project is completed on-time and on-budget, you need to work with the crew at Walter’s Painting.

“Walter’s Painting uses only top-quality products and qualified painting crews experienced with helping clients make the most informed decorating and painting decisions,” said Owner Jeff Walters. “With our team of welltrained and experienced painters, we understand what business owners expect from a painting company, and we are always ready to deliver.”

Walter’s Painting makes the process simple by providing free estimates and quality prep work, in addition to a consultation after the first coat of paint has dried and a final inspection to ensure the painting job is satisfactory.

“Many remodelers are tempted to simply do the painting work themselves, but this takes up valuable free time that could be spent elsewhere,” said Jeff Walters, owner. “We know that today’s fast-paced lifestyle means that most people are just too busy for improvements like painting and plastering, and especially all the prep work. We strive to make the entire process stress and worry-free, in addition to providing premium quality products and services that produce outstanding results.”

The mission at Walter’s Painting is to remain a leading contractor by providing the best quality work. Client’s satisfaction is their priority, so you can be sure that they will always take the extra time to make sure you love the finished product of every project.

Electricity Excellence

Having been a proud member of the Lincoln business community for 90 years, ABC Electric has the experience and knowledge to handle any application. They’re on the leading edge of LED lighting and controls, offering unique and sustainable designs to set your business apart from others.

“We recently completed an interior renovation for the VA in the Denney Federal building,” shared Project Manager Jon Eicher. “We furnished and installed new LED lighting and lighting controls, fire alarm system upgrades, complete phone and data systems including fiber optic cabling and uninterruptable power supplies, card readers and door access systems and modular furniture along with other conventional wiring systems. This is a fairly common renovation for us – as you can see we can do it all!”

ABC Electric has been seeing a growing trend of energy efficient LED lighting and the versatility of the lighting controls packages coming together. Owners are interested in the latest data technology infrastructure, which ABC Electric can gladly suggest the best options – and provide them. Even more, they offer a 25-year warranty on all data installations that they design and install.

“First and foremost, when conducting a commercial remodeling project, hire professionals in their respective disciplines,” said Jon. “Obtain the appropriate building permits and prepare an accurate budget which includes a contingency amount to help offset any surprises you may encounter along the way.”

Protect Your Property

Empire Netting & Fence is a leader in commercial fencing of all types, including security and property fences, ornamental steel fences and specialty fences offered by many vendors in the industry. In addition, they can provide both custom and prefabricated railing and other amenities that allow them to be a one-stop-shop for large commercial projects.

Empire can also assist you during your commercial remodeling project by providing temporary construction fencing around the jobsite to provide safety. This keeps the site safe from outside individuals who may wander in and allows the crews to have a visible boundary of where they are permitted to work.

Exterior Remodel

For businesses that are looking for a more historical, classic design to spruce up their building’s exterior, brick is always a stable choice—and has the big advantage of being low-maintenance. Established in 1881, Yankee Hill Brick works with local contractors to supply quality brick of all varieties and colors. Brick is an ideal material for siding and retaining walls and it continues to be a popular choice for its charming aesthetic. Yankee Hill produces its own clay mixes and high temperature firing kiln to produce a range of looks for their own brickwork. In addition to their own bricks, they also import a selection of bricks from other manufacturers, chosen to complement the local Nebraska market.

The folks at Yankee Hill Brick pride themselves on offering only the best brick products, something contractors have learned and come to rely on. Their products are specified on many awardwinning projects. The combination of quality, color and pristine makes Yankee Hill Brick an attractive choice for architects.

Ready to start taking out those walls and ripping up that flooring? We suggest first putting on some safety glasses and reaching out to these local remodeling businesses. Your priorities are their priorities, and you’ll find yourself in your ideal workspace after partnering with these contractors.