Build Me Up

Straying from our usual podcast format, today we're bringing you an inside look at the first ever Kraus-Anderson AI Symposium! Hosted by C omport , the AI S ymposium was designed to bring forward-thinking  executives a nd industry leaders from around the twin cities area to discuss how AI is reshaping business . In addition to presentations from St. Thomas University's Manjeet Rege and Autodesk's...

(For video version, visit https://www.youtube.com/user/KrausAnderson ) Hello and welcome to Build Me Up ! T oday we're digging into AI, specifically AI in the tribal gaming world. Our  guests today recently at t ended the Indian Gaming Association Trade Show and Convention , one of t he largest gatherings of tribal leaders and casino executives in the country . This conference offers a meeting pla...

(For video version, visit https://www.youtube.com/user/KrausAnderson ) Welcome to Build Me Up with Laurisa and Kaitlin from Kraus-Anderson! Earth Day is upon us, and we are taking a deep dive into one of our most sustainable, unique projects as of late : the Washington County Central Service Center, a mass timber building in Woodbury, MN .    Yep, unlike many construction projects going up today,...

Hello and welcome to Build Me Up ! This month we have the exciting opportunity to celebrate Women In Construction Week . Women make up j ust about 10% of the construction workforce. Today , we are joined by four of these women; from project managers to interns to executives, t here's something they can teach every one of us in this industry !  

Welcome to Build Me Up with Laurisa and Kaitlin from Kraus-Anderson! Today we are joined by three facility experts: Erik Krause, Director Regional Facilities Hospital Operations at Allina Health; Tim Kittila , KA's inhouse expert on facility planning and analysis; and Mike Stark, KA's director of growth and strategy. As the title suggests, today we will be focusing on how proactive facility planni...

Welcome back for Season 8 of "Build Me Up" with Laurisa and Kaitlin from Kraus-Anderson! Back for the 6 th year in a row is FMI's Partner and Managing Director of Research and Analytics, Jay Bowman . KA's EVP and COO Rich Jacobson join s us as well to discuss w here the new year will bring the built market . J ay specializes in construction spending forecasts, strategic planning, and research and...

Welcome to "Build Me Up" with Laurisa and Kaitlin from Kraus-Anderson! Pre-Design is a term buzzing around our office because of its proven effectiveness when it comes to cost savings and enhanced collaboration. Today, we 've invited t wo of KA's preconstruction experts:   Nate Enger, d irector of DPM , and Kevin Bright, s ustainability m anager, to discuss how pre-design services are re-shaping t...

  In t oday's discussion , we explore c onstruction and d esign t rends r eshaping the h ealthcare industry . The design needs and construc tion requirements for medical centers are evolving rapidly, driven by new challenges, technological advancements and economic changes —and we're here to explore what this means for you and your projects. Laurisa is joined by Rachael Oelke of Kraus-Anderson, Ma...

Today we welcome back Ben Shardlow , chief of staff at the Minneapolis Downtown C ouncil and D owntown Improvement District . Ben joins us today to talk about the Downtown by Design 2035 plan for the city of Minneapolis . From safety to culture to the overall vibe of the city we cover some of the highlights of what we can expect in the next 10 years along with how the city engaged with neighborhoo...

In this episode, Lori Barr, the Executive Director and Co-Founder of Raise the Barr , joins "Build Me Up."   Lori and her son Anthony, a former defenseman for the Minnesota Vikings and 4X NFL Pro-Bowler , founded the organization in 2016 . The nonprofit aims to help single parents break down the social and economic barriers that come with pursuing higher education. We chatted with Lori about Raise...

Back by popular demand, "Build Me Up" invited FMI's Partner and Managing Director of Research and Analytics, Jay Bowman, and KA's EVP and COO Rich Jacobson back to chat! They join us each year as we look to see what the new year is going bring the built market .      Jay specializes in construction spending forecasts, strategic planning, and research and analytics for the A/C/E industry. We recap...

Season 6 of "Build Me Up" is complete. Thank you to all the guests who participated in Season 5, as well as to our listeners. We're grateful to have a platform where stories that build up the community can be shared. See you in the New Year!

Food shelves are essential for addressing food insecurity in communities, providing vital support to individuals and families who struggle to access adequate nutrition. They offer a safety net, especially during times of economic hardship, by distributing donated and surplus food to those in need. Food shelves help reduce hunger, promote health, and foster a sense of community by ensuring that no...

Trigger Warning: This podcast contains references to sensitive themes, such as suicide, which may be distressing to some individuals. W e ask you to put yourself and your mental health first when making the decision to listen . Death by suicide is all too common, particularly in the construction industry, as the suicide rate among male construction workers is 75% higher than men in the general pop...

Trigger Warning: This podcast contains references to sensitive themes, such as domestic and intimate-partner violence and sexual assault, which may be distressing to some individuals.   October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month , so "Build Me Up" is taking the opportunity to highlight Bemidji's Northwoods Battered Women's Shelter and the influential work that t hey do surrounding intimate-partn...

"Build Me Up" sits down with the team at Darcy Solutions  to discuss geothermal systems. W e're turning up the heat—or should we say dialing it down?—with an exciting look at geothermal heating and cooling. Have you ever wondered how one can harness the Earth's natural energy to keep our homes and businesses comfortable year-round ?     In this episode, we explore the science behind this sustainab...

Adolescence is a crucial time for building  good habits that are key to mental health, such as good sleep, exercising, learning to cope with problems, and managing emotions. Having   supportive family, school, and community environments really helps. Many factors can affect mental health, and the more risks teens face, the more it  impact s them.  Some teens are at higher risk of mental health iss...

As residents of the large metro area of Minneapolis , Laurisa and Lisa sometimes forget what a privilege it is to have close access to a variety of leading healthcare pro vi ders. T he reality for many is that they have to travel a long way to receive specialty care . Often, it means taking kids out of school, being away from the family's support system , and major disruptions to everyday life .  ...

Kraus-Anderson's Building Information Modeling (BIM) Department joins this episode of "Build Me Up." From drones to 360-degree cameras to Digital Twin, Andrea, Michelle, and Micah sit down to discuss the various tools utilized to help aid the construction process. The team chats about clash detections, as well as the benefits of involving their department before, during, and after the building pro...

Environmental, Social, and Government (ESG) requirements are popping up everywhere. Do you know the expectations of all the various stakeholders that impact your business? These include project owners, general contractors, investors, lenders, insurance companies, employees, and governmental agencies. Each comes with risks and opportunities. We are thrilled to join the Kraus-Anderson Insurance " Il...

At "Build Me Up," we've noticed a surge in articles discussing the use of mass timber in construction. While timber has been a construction staple for centuries, conversation about it has increased due to its role in addressing sustainability issues , particularly embodied carbon. A dvancements in timber products, like cross-laminated or glue-laminated t imber, have enhanced its strength, promptin...

Back by popular demand, "Build Me Up" invited FMI's P artner and Managing Director of Research and Analytics, Jay Bowman and KA's EVP and COO Rich Jacobson back to chat ! They join us each year as we give in to a look ahead for the year.    Jay specializes in construction spending forecasts, strategic planning, and research and analytics for the A/C/E industry. We talk about strategic planning, te...

In this episode,  Laurisa and Lisa   delve into the fascinating world of The Learning Jet with our special guests, Steve Hurvitz and Kraus-Anderson's Doug Jaeger! W onder what The L earning J et is and what it does? The Learning Jet's primary goal is to ignite students' passion for STEM subjects by immersing them in aviation education programs and activities. As the nation's pioneering nonprofit o...

Wow— Five seasons of "Build Me Up"! Thank you to all the guests who participated in Season 5, as well as to our listeners. We're grateful to have a platform where stories that  build up the community can be shared. See you in the New Year!

This week, Abbie Lown from Girl Scouts of River Valley, Barb Pecks from the Carpenters Union, and Laurie Trousil, Kraus-Anderson's Director of Diversity and Inclusion, join Build Me Up . The group talks about the Girl Scouts' Power Girls program which focuses on exposing middle school and high school girls to the trades and the impact it's having on not only the girls but their families as well. W...