A Lesson in Teamwork

School district renovation project builds community relationships

By Tom McDonough

Building new schools and renovating existing ones requires a relationship of trust between
school districts, construction management, and communities. With the level of teamwork, communication, and skill exhibited by S. M. Wilson & Co., the Maplewood Richmond Heights School District in Missouri has found that relationship with the company.

That relationship dates back to the fall of 2001, when the district awarded S. M. Wilson an $8.5 million contract to provide construction management services, including budgeting and conceptual planning, bidding and procurement, on-site and off-site management, and contractual negotiations for a new, two-story elementary school.

“We approached this project the way we do all our projects, by teaming up with owners and working with them to look out for their best interests and to maximize efficiencies,” said Jim Dearduff, project executive for S. M. Wilson’s education market sector.

Beth Rowland, director of buildings and grounds for the Maplewood Richmond Heights School District, said what impressed her construction management selection committee the most was the depth of skill S. M. Wilson demonstrated. “That gave us the confidence in their ability to complete the project the way we wanted,” she said. “S. M. Wilson also showed sensitivity in dealing with the community, developing a communication strategy that engaged people and our staff in the planning and design process.”

Teaming up With the Community

That strategy proved critical, because the new elementary school, like most schools, was located in the middle of a residential neighborhood. “Concerns were high,” said Kort Cole, S. M. Wilson’s project manager at the time. “We conducted an open-forum meeting with neighbors adjacent to the site, providing a general outline of the project and the activities that would occur. We gave them team contact information. I personally handed out my business card to make sure anyone could get in touch with me in case any concerns arose.”

S. M. Wilson attended all the school district’s weekly construction meetings and helped set up a Web cam so the community could view the school’s construction progress in real time. Additionally, S. M. Wilson attended the district’s monthly board meetings to keep everyone abreast of progress and how dollars were being spent. t the high school in the

“S. M. Wilson managed that project professionally, ultimately completing the school on time and within budget,” Rowland said.

And it is S. M. Wilson’s approach to its projects that makes this possible. “What S. M. Wilson tries to do on every project is make it simple and as much fun as it can be for owners,” Cole said. “Our staff has a true passion for construction, and I think this, along with our ability to communicate well with any client, sets us apart from the rest. We also look for ways to help clients with all aspects of a project, not just building construction. For example, in the Maplewood Richmond Heights School District’s case, we expanded our budget reporting to help track all costs and that provided a great double-check on the financial aspects of the job.”

Since that 2001 project, S. M. Wilson and Maplewood Richmond Heights School District have formed a long-standing partnership based on trust and respect. In 2004, the school district hired S. M. Wilson for the $9.5 million renovation of its high school and early childhood center. Then, in 2007, S. M. Wilson became the school district’s construction manager of choice for additional renovations at those two facilities, worth approximately $9 million. That work will be completed in 2009.

“Our commitment to become fully engaged with the Maplewood Richmond Heights School District as its construction professional, and to look out for its best interests, has been the reinforcing reason for our continued relationship,” Dearduff said. “Our ability to work with many varying entities and personalities and to maintain the focus on all aspects of those projects has made this a successful partnership.”

What Rowland likes best about S. M. Wilson is its commitment to customers. “The company brings a level of professionalism and trust to the table, and there is a sense of teamwork in every phase of the project,” she said.

Because of these qualities, S. M. Wilson has become an extension of the district’s staff, assisting with everything from pre-referendum services to budgeting. By being involved during every stage of the project, the company ensures that job parameters are correctly determined and developed within established guidelines.

“Having a company like S. M. Wilson means that school district actions better meet the needs of the community,” Rowland said. “It is like having a liaison between the district and the architect, and it provides checks and balances to the Board of Education and the community.”