Build Me Up

As the retail landscape continues to shift and big box stores are permanently closing their doors, these abandoned, large-scale retail facilities are left empty. Adaptive reuse has become a popular solution. Rather than demolishing the building, they are being repurposed to fit community needs. Gundersen Health System 's new clinic in Winona, Minnesota, was converted from an old Kmart building tha...

The construction industry is fast-paced and always evolving – but it has traditionally lacked the technology to streamline the complicated processes, from scheduling, to time tracking, to payroll. Brent Ramsey and Harry Beckwith saw the need for a tool that worked specifically for the challenges of construction, so they invented  Diggsly,  a cloud-based tool that is designed to be flexible to meet...

The US Green Building Council Council's LEED certification has been a sustainability standard in the design and construction industry for decades, providing performance-based measurements on the design, construction, maintenance and operation of commercial buildings. The more newly established WELL standard from the International Well Building Institute (IWBI) focuses solely on the building's end-...

In past episodes of Build Me Up, we have focused on some of the challenges in the construction industry, including the general lack of diversity in the male-dominated field. We've discussed how we can create more opportunities for women, people of color, and other underrepresented groups. The LGBT+ community has its own unique set of challenges in the workforce. Today we will be shedding light on...

As cities evolve and grow, it's important to preserve and remember their history. The construction industry is responsible for shaping skylines, and Kraus-Anderson's 122-year history in the Twin Cities has involved many landmark buildings. KA has a full-time archivist, Matt Goff, to organize the company's historical archives and artifacts, and to tell the story of many culturally significant build...

The North Park School for Innovation,  part of the Columbia Heights Public School District in Minnesota, is changing the way students prepare for a 21st-century world. The PreK through 5 th  Grade building has a focus on STEM, creativity, and sustainability with flexible learning studios that facilitate hands-on learning programs for students. North Park was designated as a  Green Ribbon School,  ...

When we talk about construction, it's easy to jump right to the multi-million dollar projects like skyscrapers, multifamily housing, stadiums and event spaces. These multi-phased projects can be complicated and take years to complete. But a lot of the behind-the-scenes in construction involves smaller scale projects, like tenant improvements, renovations, buildouts, maintenance, and more. While th...

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, a time to raise awareness and empower people to play a role in making great childhoods happen.  CornerHouse,  an accredited Child Advocacy Center based in Minneapolis, has worked over the past 30 years to address the traumatic effects of child abuse – supporting children and families throughout the disclosure, investigation, and legal processes. Most recently...

The past year has brought countless changes and challenges across nearly every sector of the economy. But perhaps no industry has been as deeply uprooted as the hospitality industry. As the COVID-19 pandemic swept through the U.S., hotels and event centers were forced to close their doors. But construction of the  Omni Viking Lakes Hotel,  a 14-story, 320-room hotel loaded with amenities, part of...

The past year of challenges amidst the COVID-19 pandemic has brought the importance of healthcare access to the forefront of the conversation. But those who live in rural communities can face a variety of barriers to receiving proper health care.  According to the CDC,  rural Americans make up about 15 percent of the U.S. population, and are more likely than their urban counterparts to die from he...

After the tragic death of George Floyd sparked nationwide protests and civil unrest, almost every industry has had to look in the mirror – reflecting on overt, covert and systemic racism that exists, and which creates barriers for people of color and other underrepresented groups. The construction industry is no different. According to the  U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics,  88% of construction wor...

The City of Virginia,  located along Minnesota's Iron Range, is booming with new development projects. When Mayor Larry Cuffe took office in 2014, he was faced with a unique set of challenges that have been impacting Minnesota's mining communities. High unemployment rates and the need for a more diversified local economy are challenges now made more complicated amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. But th...

The silent epidemic of mental health is hitting the construction industry hard.  According to the CDC,  suicide rates for people in the construction industry are twice as high as the United States national average. 1 in 5 construction workers suffer from mental health challenges, but it is often a silent battle. What factors contribute to mental illness, and what can we do as an industry to end th...

The Nobel Hall of Science at  Gustavus Adolphus College , located in St. Peter, Minnesota, has been a staple on campus for decades. But its recent transformation is setting up Gustavus to be one of the top liberal arts colleges in the country. Kraus-Anderson completed the renovation and expansion project this summer, nearly doubling the building's footprint to over 177,000 square feet. The new spa...

In Part 2 with Michael Latiner and Ryan Trompeter of BuiltWorlds, they dive into the BuiltWorlds Venture Forum (BVF), which is investing in the most promising construction technology and services. They also discuss the productivity gap in the global construction industry, and how technology investments can work to increase efficiency and address problems like the industry's labor shortage. 

We're launching into a two-part series here on Build Me Up , featuring an innovative company that is pushing the industry forward: BuiltWorlds. This powerful, digital-first platform evolved from a simple blog in 2013 to a robust network and learning platform made specifically for the industry. In Part I, Michael Latiner, who leads the BuiltWorlds Venture Forum, and Ryan Trompeter, Senior Venture A...

Bethesda Lutheran Communities,  a non-profit that supports people with developmental disabilities across the U.S., recently opened  Cornerstone Village. This first-of-its-kind living community in Victoria, MN, combines active seniors and independent adults with disabilities, creating an inclusive, integrated environment that has not been modeled in the U.S. Accessibility is a priority at Cornersto...

So much is still unknown about the COVID-19 pandemic. As schools are navigating hybrid learning and offices are planning for an eventual return to work, there are many questions on preventative measures to slow the spread of the virus. Washing your hands, wearing a mask and social distancing are still the most effective ways to prevent COVID-19, but many people have been asking how a building's in...

The complexity of health insurance and employee benefits can be a bit overwhelming for a lot of people. As of January 2020, there is a new type of HRA, called the  Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangement, or ICHRA.  This innovative new system, while it may seem complex, is meant to keep things simple for both the employer and the employee. At Kraus-Anderson Insurance, part of the KA f...

Technology has become integral to our lives. Many of us can hop on Zoom meetings, stream our favorite TV shows, and access the internet from our pockets without giving it a second thought. But according to NPR,  over 21 million Americans still don't have access to high speed internet, with many of them in rural areas. This makes the innovations from  Paul Bunyan Communications  (PBC), which provid...

When longtime Community Development Director  Dwight Picha  began his tenure with the  City of Woodbury  in 1977, its population was just 8,000 people. 43 years later, Woodbury is one of the most populous suburbs in Minnesota with over 74,000 residents. Recently retired, Dwight oversaw the development of approximately 10 million square feet of commercial real estate. About 90 percent of the homes...

Addiction  is a prevalent issue in the U.S., and often one that gets swept under the rug. Those who are suffering from addiction can often slip through the cracks in the medical system. It becomes a cycle of emergency room visits, using  methadone  to treat overdoses and withdrawals, without any treatment plan to help the patient to recovery.  Dr. Mike Repplinger  and  Dr. Howard Croft , two emerg...

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected nearly every aspect of our lives. But perhaps no industry was as impacted as the aviation industry. The rapid shutdown of air travel is forcing the industry to get innovative as they navigate their way through this challenging economic setback. The Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport , managed by the  Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC),  served nearly...

Often times, when we use the term "innovation," people quickly jump to flashy, technologically advanced innovations. But that is not always the case.  BX Civil and Construction (BX-CC),  a highway construction company based in South Dakota, is making very intentional investments in both its people and technology. BX-CC CEO and Owner Kari Karst knew that investing in technology was vitally importan...

We have a mental health crisis in our country, and often it is the children that slip through the cracks.  In Minnesota alone,  over 100,000 children need treatment for serious emotional disturbances. Many children with complex mental illnesses will need weeks or months of round-the-clock care to get well, but the average stay in children's psychiatric hospitals is 7-10 days, on average.  The Hill...