Build Me Up

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 space includes new laboratories, teaching and study spaces, and connects Nobel Hall with the Schaefer Fine Arts Center. The project was an intentional move to gear Gustavus toward the STEAM movement, aligning Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics with the Arts.

Gustavus Provost and Dean Brenda Kelly, Geology and Environmental Studies professor Julie Bartley, and KA Project Manager Alec Miller discuss the Nobel Hall project and how Gustavus Adolphus College is aligning itself for the future.

When Ayan Abukar emigrated to the U.S. from Ethiopia, staying in refugee camps before arriving in Minnesota in 1998, her passion was to help others. Growing up in refugee camps taught her the importance of community, and she has worked for decades to help underserved communities in the Twin Cities.

Ayan saw the need for more affordable and accessible healthcare for the immigrant community, so she opened Action Care Community Clinic. The clinic sets out to provide quality care for those who may not be familiar with the U.S. healthcare system and need extra support. To discuss Action Care Community Clinic’s impact, we sat down with Ayan Abukar and clinic manager Kelli Hopkins.

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 Analyst with the BVF, discuss how BuiltWorlds got started and its evolution to becoming a network of thought leaders that is pushing the industry forward. Stay tuned for Part II, when we dive into the BuiltWorlds Venture Forum (BVF), which is investing in the most promising construction technology products and services.

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 Cornerstone Village, and smart home technology in every unit allows residents to do everything from locking the doors, adjusting the thermostat, and switching the lights, all completely hands-free.

Bethesda's Vice President of Real Estate Tom Campbell and Kraus-Anderson Project Manager Aaron Zabel discuss the innovative model at Cornerstone Village.

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 indoor air quality can play a role in the spread of the virus. It is easy for misinformation and fear to spread surrounding so many unknowns, so we talked to three MEP experts to get to the facts of how a building's HVAC system can affect – or not affect – the spread of COVID-19

To discuss what is known about the link to indoor air quality and COVID-19, we are talking to Kraus-Anderson's MEP Systems Group Manager Matt Stringfellow, Facilities Assessment Manager Tim Kittila, and Principal at KFI Engineers, Randy Christenson.

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 family of companies, the independent agency is dedicated to navigating the ever-changing world of employee benefits. ICHRA is meant for businesses of all sizes, with an emphasis on giving employees plenty of choices.

On the latest episode of Build Me Up, we sat down with Kraus-Anderson Insurance's Vice President of Employee Benefits Kelly Brenna and Senior Benefit Advisor Jenny Pine, to break down ICHRA and what it means for both the employee and the employer.

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 provides communication technology services to northern Minnesota communities, all the more important and impressive. Located in Bemidji, PBC provides one of the largest rural gigabit networks in the country. As people continue to rely on telecommuting, distance learning, telehealth, and more, communities like Bemidji are becoming sought out destinations to live.

PBC's CEO and General Manager, Gary Johnson, was named one of Twin Cities Business' 100 People to Know in 2016. He earned this in recognition of PBC's innovation, growth, and continued commitment to innovative technology solutions. On the latest episode of the Build Me Up podcast, we talked to Gary Johnson; Dave Hengel, executive director of Greater Bemidji, which drives development in the region; and Tracy Pogue, director of business development at KA Bemidji.

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 in Woodbury today were constructed during Dwight's time with the city. Woodbury also boasts excellent parks and school systems, and some key development projects include the CityPlace shopping center and the HealthEast Sports Center, one of the largest multiuse sports centers in the state.

To discuss the City of Woodbury's tremendous growth, we sat down with Dwight Picha and Kraus-Anderson Construction Executive Vice President Rich Jacobson, who is a Woodbury resident himself.

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 emergency medicine specialists, grew frustrated with the holes in the system that was failing those suffering from addiction. That is when the innovative treatment model for the Monarch Health Addiction Recovery Clinic, opening in Madison, Wisconsin, was born.

The clinic will serve as a "one stop shop" for the recovery process, with medical treatment, substance abuse counseling, pharmacy, lab testing, and case management all on one site. The clinic will tailor each patient's treatment process to their individual needs, acknowledging that recovery is not a "one size fits all" endeavor.

Tom and Mary sat down with Dr. Mike Repplinger and Clinic Manager Sheri Rettew to discuss Monarch Health's innovative treatment model.