Hats Off to Higher Education! | |
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SD Mines Deveraux Library Modernization | |
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Among the nation’s top science, technology, engineering, and math universities – South Dakota Mines is developing the next generation of STEM leaders. In fact, Mines is continually ranked among the best engineering schools in the country for return on investment. We know that firsthand, because 1 in 4 of current employees are proud Mines alums.
(Myself included…go Hardrockers!)
As alums, it’s especially rewarding to support the ongoing growth and modernization of the campus. One such project involved breathing new life into the Devereaux Library. A critical component to student life, it was clear that the space needed to be moved beyond books and upgraded to meet today’s student needs.
The process began with careful planning. Our team participated in charrette meetings with the stakeholders, management, and State staff to determine the future of how the library needed to function in the digital age. We assisted with the selection of mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems to best fit each option and provided an opinion of probable construction costs for those systems. This allowed the university to make an informed decision based on the economic impact of each option.
This information also allowed the university to understand the anticipated budget for the design and construction of the actual project and request appropriate funding.
The renovation was completed in 2022, and ultimately included the library, as well as maker space, a math learning lab, testing center, Student Success Center, staff office space and Einstein Bros. Bagels. The project also increased daylighting with larger windows and improved the overall aesthetic of the indoor space.
Our team designed the MEP upgrades to support each space, which notably involved proper ventilation. Not only did we need to control the humidity impacting books and other documents, but also to address air quality from processes in the maker space. Electrically, we assured adequate power distribution for the interactive spaces, and support for technology. With added window coverage that allowed more natural lighting into the building we also implemented daylight harvesting controls with the new highly efficient LED lighting fixtures to fit the modern aesthetics.
What was once a dark, outdated space students visited more out of necessity than choice has now been transformed into an inviting, comfortable center for 21st century STEM learning.
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Michael Heinrich, P.E., BEAP, BEMP is a Mechanical Engineer and Head of the Mechanical Department in Rapid City.
Email Michael
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With college commencement ceremonies taking place over the next week, we asked our staff to share a photo from their special day. Can you guess the WPE team member from their photo below? (Keep scrolling for the answers!) | |
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A. Jeff Metzger, Electrical Designer B. Jessica Rau, Mechanical Designer C. Nate Reynhout, Electrical Designer D. Pedro Piedrahita, Electrical Designer E. Kevin Wake, Mechanical Designer F. Connor Swiontek, Mechanical Engineer G. Kelli Crouse, Marketing Director
H. Nick Carr, Mechanical Designer I. Marty Christensen, President
J. Ben Sonichsen, CAD Tech
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An engineer's higher education is critical not only for our technical future, but for preparing us for the professional world. Whether it's been 3 years or 30 since they walked the stage in cap and gown, we asked our team to tell us about their college experiences and how they shaped the work they do today.
Which area of your education most prepared you for your career?
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What were your favorite classes or areas of study? | |
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Electronics
Code Writing
Power Engineering
Circuits
Physics
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Thermodynamics
Math
Heat Transfer
History
English Lit
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Kevin Wake
Mechanical Designer
Arizona State University
2010
What do you like most about the AEC industry?
How I can look around town and see projects I might have worked on.
What advice would you give new grads?
Don't forget everything you learned in college, but 90% of what you do in industry is OJT; keep an open mind and be ready to learn a lot.
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Marty Christensen, PE
Mechanical Engineer
South Dakota State University 1994
What did you learn that you still use today?
How to learn and utilize a variety of resources
What advice would you give new grads?
Find 3 or 4 quality people from varying backgrounds to latch on to as mentors and learn all that you can from each of them.
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Pedro Piedrahita
Electrical Designer
University of Wyoming
2021
What do you want new grads to know?
When I first started college, knowing English is my second language, I thought that I was never going to make it through. But guess what? Here I am living the dream. Anyone is capable of doing whatever if they are up to it. Don't give up!!
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Nate Reynhout
Electrical Designer
South Dakota State University 2019
What did you learn that you still use today?
Have a good organizational system (to do list, calendar, and file storage) will help you to never forget anything and everything
What would you tell your college self?
Did you know that you could design buildings with an EE degree? Turns out you can, and you like it!
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Matt Stroh, P.E. Mechanical Engineer
University of Nebraska
2012
What do you like most about the AEC industry?
No 2 days are the same, and the people!
What would you tell your college self?
Your career is determined by how much effort you're willing to put in. Garbage in = garbage out.
What advice would you give new grads?
Be a hard worker, be eager to learn, be humble, and be easy to work with.
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Chris Haman
Electrical Designer
Iowa State University 2016
What do you like most about the AEC industry?
I like that I get to see my designs come to life and the impact they can make on a building.
What advice would you give new grads?
Fail fast and fail often, learning does not stop even though you have a degree.
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Mechanical Designer Nick Carr performs a site observation during construction. | |
Putting Design on the Docket | |
USD Knudson School of Law Upgrades | |
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The University of South Dakota Knudson School of Law is considered one of the premier law schools in the region, with a 9:1 student-to-faculty ratio and 98 percent career placement rate. Beginning in 2021, USD set out to upgrade its buildings to create world-class facilities to support such a world-class education.
The process began with an initial study phase and master planning efforts to determine which upgrades fit within the budget, and how they could be accomplished over several phases without disrupting students and faculty.
The heart of any higher education program are its classrooms, so many of the immediate improvements focused on upgrading lecture halls and study spaces on the 1st and 2nd floors to support technology and create a more comfortable learning environment. The lower-level law library was also renovated, including replacement of all lighting, power and data for new study carrels, and improvements to the HVAC distribution and controls.
Design and construction have been phased out over the past 3 years, beginning with 1st floor lecture hall improvements, followed by the library, and currently – renovations to the 2nd floor. The more than $3.5 million in total renovations is expected to be completed by September 2024.
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Mike Fisher, P.E. an Electrical Engineer and Manager of the WPE Sioux Falls office.
Email Mike
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SDSU Stanley J. Marshall Center Improvements | |
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For many students, a big part of the college experience is supporting their school sports teams. For students at South Dakota State University, that experience has virtually exploded over the past decade with many teams making deep postseason runs, including highly publicized back-to-back football national championships, March Madness trips for both men’s and women’s basketball, and a trip to Nationals for wrestling with 8 individual qualifiers and 4 All-Americans.
Naturally, the university wants its facilities to keep pace with this success, not only for students and student-athletes, but for donors and fans too. Multiple athletic facilities on campus have undergone expansion or upgrade in recent years, including more than $75 million in improvements to the Stanley J. Marshall Center.
The complex is home to the men’s and women’s basketball and women's volleyball teams, and space was beginning to get tight. Initial programming determined a multi-phase approach to accommodate both operations and budget. Phase I was completed in 2018, and involved approximately 27,000 square feet of basketball practice space for the men’s and women’s basketball programs.
The second phase is the most extensive yet. This $53.1 million, multi-tiered project involves re-configuring the newly renamed First Bank and Trust Arena to improve site lines for fans, adding VIP box seating, club seating and an improved concourse with lots of fan concessions to bolster the feeling of “home court advantage”. The project also constructed new locker rooms for men's and women's basketball and women's volleyball, as well as visitor locker rooms.
This phase also tackles major upgrades to the mechanical, electrical, and infrastructure. Changes include major additions and modifications to the existing HVAC, plumbing, fire protection, and electrical systems. Mechanical and electrical construction for this phase alone is significant - reaching roughly $10.4 million. The teams were able to play in the former Frost Arena throughout construction thanks to a phased approach to the renovations.
Construction on this final phase is slated by December 2024.
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Kurtenbach Family Wrestling Center
The Stanley J. Marshall Center was also previously home to the SDSU Wrestling program, but during these renovations, wrestling was moved to its new home - the Kurtenbach Family Wrestling Center.
The 15,000 square foot standalone complex includes wrestling practice space, training rooms, offices, modern team suites, and classrooms.
The project was completed in 2022.
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Stuart Oster, P.E. a Mechanical Engineer and Mechanical Department Head in Sioux Falls.
Email Stu
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Check out some of our projects featured on social media and the news! | |
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Block 5 Mixed-Use Development
Rapid City, SD
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Maguire Fabrication Facility
Sioux Falls, SD
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South Dakota Shooting Sports Complex
Sioux Falls, SD
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Vic Stephens Promoted to Electrical Designer | |
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We're so proud to announce and congratulate Vic Stephens for her recent promotion to Electrical Designer!
Vic has been part of the foundation of our Rapid City office since joining us in 1997, and we're thrilled to see her take this next step in her career at WPE.
Congrats Vic!
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Join us in congratulating Mike Hessman for hitting the decade mark with WPE!
Mike joined us in 2014 as a Mechanical Engineer in Cedar Rapids, and has supported nearly 250 projects across Iowa and surrounding areas. Congratulations on 10 years Mike, and thank you for being a part of our team!
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