3,200 SF

The Premier Credit Union, Urbandale Branch is a 3,200 SF financial building consisting of transactional and office space for the Credit Union. The project was delivered through a design-build approach with Simonson Architects.

This project, similar to others at the time, had numerous challenges throughout the build, including the procurement and final plat of the property, and utility coordination and easements with the City of Urbandale. Moreover, the project was planned and obtained amidst the unpredictable construction market of 2022. Extensive assessments were conducted to identify the optimal materials and construction methods that would provide the utmost value for the project’s budget. As part of this process, thorough evaluations were carried out to compare the use of steel or wood framing. Consequently, it was determined that a wood framed structure would be most economical and timely for the project.

Graham successfully tackled a remarkable obstacle during this undertaking by accomplishing the entire project within a mere six months, all the while dedicating most of the project duration to work during the winter season.

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The Stanley Center for Peace and Security teamed up with Neumann Monson Architects and Graham Construction to renovate the existing Musser Public Library in downtown Muscatine, Iowa. The new design balances both private and communal spaces in the building’s 19,405 square foot space. The first-floor space provides the flexibility for both collaborative work areas and community events. The second floor’s private offices overlook the two-story open living room area or outdoor courtyard.  Portions of the roof and second floor were removed to create an outdoor courtyard to serve as both an outdoor workspace and a community garden.

In aligning the Stanley Center for Peace and Security’s global mission, the center made the decision to pursue a Living Building certification, the most rigorous measure of sustainable development. To achieve the certification, solar arrays will produce 110% of the building energy needs. Wastewater deduction was made by using low-flow fixtures and rainwater collection for irrigation. Over 90% of the construction waste was also diverted from landfills and recycled.

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Storelocal Cedar Rapids storage facility is a 60,000 square foot, three story pre-engineered metal building in the Kingston area of Cedar Rapids, just minutes from downtown. The project was built to create new personal and commercial storage spaces in a secure and climate-controlled environment. The building utilizes state of the art security systems to allow for complete self service and access to the units, building and attached garage.

The project had multiple challenges that the Graham team was able to overcome throughout the course of the project. The project is built on a very small site relative to the footprint of the building. Due to this there was minimal space for staging construction materials and deliveries for all materials had to be coordinated for in time deliveries.

Additionally, primarily due to manufacturing delays related to COVID-19, construction of the structure occurred throughout the winter. The Graham team built a 10,000-square-foot tent over half of the third-floor decking. This allowed the area to be heated so the concrete could be poured and cured. The tent enclosure was taken down, moved, rebuilt, and the process repeated until we finally had a completed third floor that could be framed.

Another challenge the team overcame was coordinating multiple out of state contractors and owner vendors to get all the building security systems to function harmoniously.

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Phase 1 was the construction of a new 4,950 sf Multi-Purpose building to help neglected animals which may otherwise be mistreated or euthanized. The propose for this building is to provide additional space for the Cedar Valley Humane Society to have vaccination clinics and obedience classes, house overflow of animals, storage for their food pantry, and have a meeting space for community or private events to better serve the community. The Education, Event, and Training Center has a separate entrance, for public classes, birthday parties, meetings and other events.
The goal for the next 2 phases is to triple shelter size to an 18,000 sq. ft. facility to accommodate community pet needs. The HVAC systems need to be updated to include separate systems for isolation and adoption areas. It will increase natural light throughout shelter to enhance mood and reduce stress of shelter pets and create an inviting lobby area with adequate seating.
The plan utilizes materials that will reduce sound amplification to reduce stress for shelter pets and provided separate entrances for adoption and admission departments. It will increase animal kennel capacity to ensure safety of all pets and Update flooring to be uniform and sealed for safety and disease control. Rooms will be created for quarantine areas to care for animals with contagious diseases while preventing the spread to other heathy pets. All plumbing and electrical will be updated for energy efficient usage.
Also in the plans are outdoor “Catios” for access to fresh air and multiple play yards for dogs to play in. There will be indoor meet and greet rooms for potential adopters to spend time with a pet.

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Graham Construction was selected as the Construction Manager for the First
Federal Credit Union because of our ability to deliver quality projects within a
guaranteed time frame. They subsequently chose the Graham team, for their
Marion build-out and the Hiawatha and 1st Avenue renovations. They also
came to us in their time of need for the Derecho and building fire repairs.
FFCU strives to offer its members a unique banking experience and to stay in
front of the current trends in banking. The new 7,600 SF facility has an exterior
look that stands out among the other Westdale area buildings. This design
continues as you enter the building. Instead of a standard bank teller line,
there are Electronic Teller Machines in a modern lobby with high ceilings and
natural light from all directions.
A technology wall matches the modern look of the facility. A contact center,
board room, conference space, secure storage, and future tenant space finish
the facility.

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The Kreg Tool Headquarters is a spacious facility spanning 154,000 square feet. It comprises of 120,000 square feet dedicated to manufacturing and warehousing, while the remaining 34,000 square feet is designated for office space. The construction of this project followed a design-build approach in collaboration with Neumann Monson. However, the project encountered several challenges, the first being the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Initially, work commenced in early March, but progress had to be halted until April, with the exception of grading activities. One noteworthy obstacle faced during this time was the absence of a road leading to the green field site. Simultaneously, the city of Ankeny was working on constructing a road that aligned with the start of our construction. Unfortunately, this process took nearly five months to complete.

During the initial two months, we managed to utilize a makeshift temporary road that ran alongside the road under construction. However, as the weather conditions became increasingly wet, this alternative route was no longer viable. To overcome this hurdle, we collaborated closely with Kreg and neighboring landowners to secure an easement through an existing farm field. This solution enabled us to continue with the construction process seamlessly, ensuring minimal delays as we received necessary materials like precast elements, steel, and concrete for the foundation work.

Graham self-performed a significant portion of the project, encompassing various tasks such as constructing the foundations, installing blocking, handling specialties, millwork, and the installation of all doors, hardware, and door frames. The floor-to-ceiling entrances prominently featured wood panels, which required us to install
blocking along the entire office wall in multiple sections. We then proceeded to install charred wood paneling, wood slat walls, wood slat ceilings, as well as wood doors and frames.

The main focus of the entrance area is a grand staircase weighing 30 tons, which was suspended from the steel structure in the central “marketplace” area. This impressive staircase was installed after the completion of the floors and while the framing work was still in progress. To hang the staircase, its individual pieces were carefully lowered from the structure using a chain fall system, and then firmly affixed in position using a welded clevis and threaded rods.

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Construction of an approximately 103,000 SF new warehouse and 2-story office facility on a 14 acre site that houses specialty equipment used to sort recycled material. The shell consists of precast, steel members, glazing, and metal panels, concrete slab and foundations. The interior finishes of the warehouse are primarily exposed precast and sealed concrete floors, the office building portion consists of metal studs, drywall, flooring, ceilings, and casework.

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Kingston Quarters is one of the newest downtown living development to hit the Cedar Rapids skyline. This is a new and exciting luxury option to the downtown living of Cedar Rapids. Located the perfect distance off the river but within walking distance of downtown, these townhomes offer the best of both worlds. All units have private balconies, private garages, and are built above the 500-year flood plain. The project encompasses a 12-plex condo facility using two-story wood framing with a basement below. The project features total of 38,000 square feet.

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Graham Construction was the original builder and has done all maintenance/remodel work since the building opened in 1997. Graham has also performed all the tenant improvement work that has taken place within the building since its purchase by Federal Home Loan Bank.

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