Stories

Proud Technical Builders

This article is included in the Fall/Winter 2015 edition of the DPR Newsletter.

Our people are passionate about technical projects of all sizes and levels of complexity.

One of 16 practices defined in the DPR Operating Code that helps our employees understand the underlying strategy in all that we do.

As the industry and DPR evolve, things have changed over the last 25 years; however, technical expertise has always been one of our defining strategies.

Recently, we asked a cross section of customers to define what technical expertise means to them. They most often responded with answers, including mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) and other discipline expertise, lessons learned from relevant experience and know-how. We agree. We ask our employees to know our customers’ business, industry and values as well as they know their own so we can offer real value throughout the life of a project.

Beyond the drive to take our in-house expertise to the next level, we are focusing on developing the next generation of technical builders.

KNOWING THE “WHY, HOW AND WHAT”

We ask our builders to understand the “why,” “how” and “what” of every project. It’s imperative to know “why” each building system is selected for a particular project and “why” it makes economic sense over the life cycle of the building. We want to be hands-on with the “what” of each system and the “how” that system is installed, tested, started-up and commissioned. We want all of our project teams to take personal ownership in building technical expertise.

A significant opportunity to positively impact project cost is during project definition and conceptual/schematic phases. We train our teams to provide even more leadership at these critical early phases. The “devil is in the details,” after all. Our teams are encouraged to be more proactive and collaboratively challenge any elements or details as design progresses that may not be in our customer’s best interest. Our customers routinely commend our ability to anticipate their needs.

HOW IS REAL VALUE CREATED?

We can optimize both cost and technology through our approach to major equipment selection by working with engineers and manufacturers, for example. Our teams vigilantly plan and coordinate the most efficient approach to field execution and maximize prefabrication and modular system opportunities. Leading a methodical approach to commissioning is our standard final step to prove that all systems and equipment operate and produce the desired building performance.

In its 25 years, DPR has, and will always, employ a strong team of in-house MEP talent. Our seasoned MEP professionals have spent large portions of their careers focusing on particular systems or disciplines such as HVAC, piping or electrical systems and the controls that govern those systems. While our best learning environment remains in the field, our dedicated MEP professionals spend many hands-on hours mentoring, training and growing our next generation.

We are proud that our customers recognize DPR’s technical expertise—and we will continue to challenge ourselves to develop the next generation of technical builders that will build great things for the future.