JE Dunn is one of the leading construction companies in the semiconductor industry because we understand our clients’ need to be proactive and flexible. To better empower our clients to navigate the complexities of semiconductor construction with greater efficiency, our teams employ four key drivers to increase speed to market: early involvement, high-performing teams, flexible design and delivery, and unmatched communication.

Early involvement

Having the right team is critical to ensuring greater certainty of outcomes. The earlier JE Dunn is engaged in a project, the better positioned we are to help our clients get ahead of potential bottlenecks. Where possible, we collaborate with our partners early to anticipate technology needs, examining what operations should be prioritized and where flexibility is most needed.

Additionally, we help clients weigh the pros and cons of a new or full buildout versus retrofitting an existing space to meet a client’s unique business demands. This allows our clients the ability to safely keep crucial business operations running while building more capacity or making updates in phases. On a project we completed with a client in the western United States, our early engagement during design development generated over 1,000 questions that we were able to review and resolve with the design team prior to completion of the design or bidding. The result was a much more coordinated design that enabled a much more efficient bidding and construction process.

To some, it may seem excessive to involve a general contractor in these early considerations, but bringing JE Dunn experts on board early in the process ensures that stakeholders have a genuine partner in making informed decisions about pricing options, resource procurement, and more. This early involvement is the most concrete way to communicate and plan strategically to guarantee jobsite safety, minimize rework in future stages, and maximize capacity to continue business operations as construction gets under way. Early engagement with our clients leads to effective team building and often results in significant cost reductions by incorporating lessons learned from similar projects. Providing this input often results in value engineering options that are crucial to adhering to capital budgets and aggressive schedules.

High-performing teams

At JE Dunn, our people are our greatest assets. To enhance speed to market, we begin by providing the right talent from the outset, ensuring effective communication, thorough planning for onsite safety, and navigation through every phase of construction. We collaborate closely with our clients to build a plan that aligns with their end goals, working backward step by step to the current state. This process helps us synchronize each construction milestone with the right resources and timelines needed to achieve the final vision.

Whether JE Dunn takes the lead in coordinating teams or collaborates alongside a client’s in-house talent or preferred external vendors, we draw on more than a decade of experience in semiconductor facility construction. Our dedication to understanding each client’s specific needs, safety concerns, and business operations fosters a tailored approach to every project. This heightened level of collaboration and communication enforces a relentless commitment to safety and attention to detail, ultimately making interruptions to production a rarity.

JE Dunn has been highly successful following both a Collaborative Project Delivery and a true Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) model. On one Design-Build project, we pre-selected trade partners with the client, developed a high performing team charter, and proceeded to work as one team: client, contractor, designer, and trade partners, to deliver a work program that exceeded all of our client’s stated performance metrics. On an east coast project, the client selected an IPD model, and we successfully delivered the project on time and under budget. It was deemed a huge success by the client, giving them the flexibility they desired along with buy-in from all parties.

Flexible design and delivery

Our Advanced Industries clients invest significant time — often months or years — researching and testing their operations to optimize both the product they create and how they make it. Any change in that recipe for success can call for an upgrade to the tools, systems, or the physical space needed to manufacture. As a partner, our flexibility in accommodating these unique requirements and any changes to it is paramount.

With the right people and the right timing, the third driver to increasing speed to market is choosing the design and delivery method that best fits a project’s intended goals and technology. Every client is different, often balancing the need for certainty of results with the flexibility to adapt in planning and building. At JE Dunn, we present our clients with all their options when it comes to integrating design and delivering results that best balance anticipating changes in work and keeping schedules on track.

In most cases, we strongly recommend considering an integrated design approach. This approach brings together a collaborative team of a construction manager, designers, consultants, trade partners and suppliers all working together with the client. Having an integrated and robust team like this offers clients the opportunity for cost, schedule, and quality reviews at every project stage. This helps our high-performing team to better optimize project funds and maintain communication across all areas as well as with clients and stakeholders.

For delivery, we also offer a range of options to our clients. Each of these options offer different levels of involvement from a construction partner.

• Design-Build: Offers less initial certainty of results but with the highest levels of flexibility, collaboration, efficiency in design and construction, and opportunity for schedule compression.
• CM/GM: Offers less initial certainty of results but with a higher level of flexibility; involves more collaboration and opportunity for schedule compression.
• Design-Bid-Build: Offers the highest certainty of results with the lowest level of flexibility; involves the lowest amount of collaboration and longest schedule.

Unmatched communication

With the right team, timeline, and approach, the last key to increasing speed to market comes down to communication. Our approach to communicating throughout the construction journey starts with building a foundation of trust, allowing all stakeholders to work together authentically and effectively. Our teams first work to gain an in-depth understanding of our clients, their stakeholders, and what it takes to build for their specific operations and advanced technology needs.

As plans form for a project, our teams use this understanding of a client’s needs to lay out and explain all the options so stakeholders can make informed decisions at the optimal time, keeping projects on track. By ensuring the right stakeholders are involved at key points in the construction timeline, we facilitate timely decision-making to avoid rework and project delays.

When executed successfully, this grants clients the cost validation and planning they need to avoid future budgeting constraints and anticipate potential challenges in procuring materials so construction can be completed without interruption. Within all complex projects changes inevitably arise, but the trust and mutual goals forged from the beginning will allow the team to communicate and navigate these issues together to keep projects on track. Speed to market is a critical component to restoring U.S.-based companies to the levels of market share experienced in the ‘70s and ‘80s. This approach not only enables our partners to outpace the competition but also plays a crucial role in advancing national security, setting a new standard for excellence in the industry.

The post Four Drivers to Increase Speed to Market in Semiconductor, Other Advanced Manufacturing first appeared on JE Dunn Construction.

The post The Look Ahead: Advanced Facilities Group first appeared on JE Dunn Construction.

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“JE Dunn is driving growth in these advanced manufacturing markets by ensuring quality, safety, and timely delivery. Our approach includes strong trade partner relationships, skilled labor, and a national presence to meet the increasing demands of these sectors.”

Paul Neidlein

Advanced Facilities Group President

Advanced Facilities Group Spotlight

This spotlight examines the unique and complex challenges of working on advanced manufacturing projects amid ongoing supply chain disruptions and labor shortages. Paul Neidlein, Advanced Facilities Group President, explains how JE Dunn tackles these hurdles with innovative solutions, ensuring timely, high-quality results in critical sectors such as semiconductors and data centers.

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The post Advanced Facilities Group: How JE Dunn Meets Demand on Complex Projects in High-Growth Markets first appeared on JE Dunn Construction.

Thanks to the unique combination of competitive business incentives, an abundance of usable land, and skilled workforces, the Texas and Oklahoma markets have emerged as prime candidates for mega project construction.

JE Dunn recently spoke with leaders of our mega projects across the South Central Region to learn more about what made their projects successful and what continues to help them refine operations for the success of the project teams and our clients

Forrest Wilson, Oklahoma Office Leader

Before stepping into his role as JE Dunn’s Oklahoma City and Tulsa Office Leader in July 2024, Forrest Wilson served as project executive on Sixth and Guadalupe – a 2.1 million square foot, 66-story, mixed-use skyscraper in downtown Austin. The nearly $361 million project is currently the city’s tallest building.

What led to the success of a project this size?

As with just about anything, communication and partnership truly is key. It is vital that leaders on all levels of a mega project check in with their direct reports early and often to make sure no one gets lost in the project’s magnitude. I’ve found that these regular check ins help keep people engaged throughout the lifespan of a long project while ensuring objectives and milestones are clearly understood.

Does prefabrication play a role at this level of construction?

Prefabrication should be considered for all projects, but it can prove vital to the highest levels of success on large projects. Any man-hours we can remove from the site benefits everything from safety to quality to the logistics of moving material and people. Since we were going so tall on this building, we spent a lot of time thinking about the logistics of moving people and materials up and down the building. This wouldn’t be an issue with a shorter building. Our team leads were constantly thinking about that long-term and short-term coordination.

Greg Euston, Project Executive

Earlier this year, the JE Dunn / Turner Joint Venture made headlines after being awarded the $1.2 billion Austin Convention Center Redevelopment. Greg Euston is leading the JE Dunn project team’s efforts to help nearly double the size of the facility, which is a hub for the annual SXSW Conference. This isn’t Greg’s first large campus project either – he oversaw the construction of Dell Seton Medical Center at The University of Texas in Austin and helped lead the Sprint World Headquarters in Kansas.

How can joint ventures benefit mega projects?

On projects of mega magnitude, our joint venture partners are essential. They help provide resources and expertise any single general contractor couldn’t reliably supply alone. Take, for example, the redevelopment of the Austin Convention Center. JE Dunn’s relationships and industry expertise – at both a local and national level – paired with Turner Construction’s extensive convention center resume means the client benefits from both teams’ invaluable experience in preconstruction, estimating, and execution.

What role does sustainability play in mega projects?

High-profile projects prioritize sustainable building practices more every year, and for good reason. Not only is environmental stewardship important for our communities, it also fosters public support for a project, especially one of such magnitude and visible impact. However, simply recycling materials is no longer sufficient. Now, mega projects are shifting their sustainability focus to reducing or eliminating a facility’s carbon footprint through reduced embodied carbon and other zero-carbon initiatives. On the Austin Convention Center Project, our team is working to achieve zero carbon certification through the use of lower carbon concrete and the re-use of some of the structural steel from the existing convention center. Our team also plans to install a 100% electric kitchen and electric heat recovery chillers to help the facility operate carbon-free.

Alok Patel, Vice President/ Project Executive

Since breaking ground on the Temple Data Center in early 2022, 386-acres went from a greenfield to a three-building, 750,000 square foot campus. Alok Patel helped lead the transformation that saw over1,400 skilled tradespeople on-site at peak construction and boasts a $100M+ JE Dunn self-perform package which includes scopes for layout, concrete, equipment pads, site paving, precast supply and erection, carpentry-rough and finish, doors, frames, and hardware installation, multi-trade rack fabrication and installation, hot aisle containment installation, and temporary low voltage services.

How do you effectively lead the number of staff required for a project of this size?

Our team working on this project is massive – we’re essentially our own small town within a city. We have dedicated, full-time staff for engineers, equipment managers, construction

managers, safety professionals, schedulers, VDC and QA, sustainability, energy, accounting, and information technology. Basically, it takes similar resources as a small office operation takes to effectively run something this large. Throughout the project’s lifecycle, I’ve found team building sessions – not just fun activities, but programs run by specialized third parties – create a true team culture. This in turn creates a mutual respect among the team and positions each person to execute their individual task to the best of their ability.

What tools and technologies are essential to construct mega projects?

Mega projects, especially those for clients in highly advanced fields, demand technological advancements and expertise from general contractors and trade partners. Buildots, AutoCAD, LaserScanning, and GPS point shooting allow JE Dunn to work smarter, not harder, and meet this demand. When the technology is paired with our best-in-class experts who run these tools, we can help the Owner and project team make confident decisions quickly.

Brian Setley, Project Executive

When data showed sustained growth in Advanced Industries, Mission Critical, and Industrial & Manufacturing over the last five years, JE Dunn formed an Advanced Facilities Group to best support our clients while driving innovation. As a project executive for the group, Brian Setley is currently putting his expertise to work at the $800 million Temple Data Center.

Have you found any effective strategies for managing large projects?

For me, officing on site 95% of the time made a world of difference in my ability and efficiency as a leader on this project. Your general contractor must be deeply ingrained and proactive from the earliest phases of a mega project. Project executives and general superintendents should be involved with all aspects of preconstruction to develop an early mobilization and logistics plan.

Are there any interesting programs or construction methods to consider for large projects?

JE Dunn is seeing more Owner Furnished Contractor Installed (OFCI) equipment on mega projects, which typically entails MEP equipment mounted to skids or prefabrication of entire “houses” of MEP systems. Additionally, many mega projects take place in more remote and rural areas, so we are seeing a need to enhance the craft experience on the job site. A great culture on-site serves to attract and retain the best labor in the industry. Basically, we set aside a portion of our budget to create the best working conditions for our craft workers. For example, dedicated break structures with heating and cooling, microwave ovens, televisions, food trucks on site, restroom trailers that are heated and cooled, bussing to and from lighted and paved parking lots, as well as fun celebrations for

safety and completion of milestone dates. JE Dunn is paying close attention to the workers’ requests for accommodation and striving to provide the best job site amenities in the industry which has proven to be beneficial to the workers and the project.

David Weatherbie, Project Executive

With more than three decades of construction experience, David Weatherbie has worked on mega projects for major corporate campuses, airports, and semiconductor manufacturing facilities. His most recent project was a 126-acre site in North Austin for a multi-phased corporate campus with office buildings, parking garages, a central utility plant and massive site excavation and utilities.

How do you structure the staff on a mega project for maximum success?

Mega jobs require mega staff. Structuring them is not much different than how you would structure a business unit but running them requires in-depth knowledge and experience in project management. It also requires advanced people skills and expert planning abilities. Even with these traits, some nuances must be exercised to ensure success. Trust in and the support of your team is at the top of that list. How you respond to unforeseen issues and the ability to forecast possible outcomes will determine how you best position the project for success.

Is the approach to scheduling different for mega projects?

The common thread in mega projects – no matter the product type or client – is speed to market. JE Dunn’s team of technical builders who excel in tight timelines and massive project scale achieves this with several methodologies. The most frequently utilized and oldest in the industry is to fast-track the work. Essentially, the design team releases design packages to the construction team in phases, all while continuing to design future phases of the work. We also use a rolling GMP, or a component GMP, which means we are contracted first for the initial design package and usually a larger portion of the general requirements and conditions of the project. Then, amendments are made to the contract for subsequently issued design packages or “components” of the work. This benefits both the project schedule and budget.

Chris Peck, Dallas Office Leader

With more than three decades of building experience, Chris Peck has led JE Dunn’s Dallas team through multiple mega projects. Most recently, his team successfully delivered the Loews Arlington Hotel & Convention Center – a $550 million, 21-story resort boasting 888 guest rooms, five food and beverage outlets, and indoor and outdoor convention space.

How does project data management play into the success of large projects?

The administrative demands of managing a mega project are immense. You need a dedicated project administrative team at the project level, including project accounting, to manage the tremendous volume of data generated. In many ways, a “mega” project is its own business and requires all the ancillary project support that you traditionally receive from the home office to be located at the job site.

What does a successful preconstruction phase look like on a mega project?

Mega projects are incredibly demanding on a preconstruction team. Often “co-location” with the design team and owner’s project management staff is required to ensure that everyone stays aligned. It also is critical to have your key operations project team members assigned very early in the preconstruction phase and committed throughout the preconstruction period. The volume of information and knowledge behind key decisions during this time is vital for the operations leadership to obtain. Because preconstruction periods for mega projects can extend for two or more years, it is important for the builder to be able to recall why decisions were made.

The post Mega Project Building Tips from JE Dunn Experts first appeared on JE Dunn Construction.

The post How JE Dunn’s Advanced Facilities Group Changes the Game first appeared on JE Dunn Construction.

The post JE Dunn Announces Its Newly Formed Advanced Facilities Group first appeared on JE Dunn Construction.