Jeff Smith

LEED AP, P.E.

Senior Vice President, Construction

With an impressive portfolio of project experience, Jeff is driven to find a better way and bring more value to clients with creative solutions that optimize design and construction.

Responsibilities

Leads the construction team working on projects in Iowa and Nebraska
Oversees project design and construction activities from conception to activation
Proactively identifies potential issues with schedule, quality, clients, associates, vendors and subcontractors, and collaborates with team members to implement effective resolutions
Leads and demonstrates a commitment to a Safety First work environment for all team members through development and reinforcement of safety best practices that meet or exceed industry standards
Contributes to the development of short- and long-term plans for the growth and development of our design-build construction teams
Develops direct reports and project teams, including goal setting, mentoring and continuous feedback
Actively promotes and supports a diverse, equitable and inclusive work environment on projects

Experience

Jeff started his career with us in 1995 after graduating from college. During his tenure, he has successfully completed dozens of projects, consistently delivering quality buildings and expertly managing schedules with tight timelines.

Jeff has demonstrated time and time again that hist early involvement in the design phase can guarantee a superior project, often resulting in cost savings for the client.

Jeff’s leadership on Jules on 3rd, an eight-story apartment building in Boise, Idaho, is an example. Our team was enlisted by the developer to take over the project midstream, as it was significantly over budget and the design-bid-build approach offered no price guarantee. Jeff and his team dug in and provided peace of mind with a guaranteed maximum price that lowered costs through design efficiencies, including a simplified cast-in-place concrete structure, a better performing wood structure design, more efficient unit layouts and a revised exterior material palette that met the city’s requirements. This saved the client $1 million.

Thoughtful and creative design under Jeff’s leadership enabled similar results for Iowa State University’s Geoffroy Residence Hall, an eight-story student living tower. Despite a very tight timeline, the project was completed for $1 million less than the University’s budget while providing more of what the client desired – 84 beds, which was 12% more than the university’s minimum requirement for the project. The design also doubled the size of the lobby entrance and provided a nearly column-free structure for future flexibility.

Jeff’s leadership on the Omaha Box Warehouse & Production Facility in Papillion, Nebraska, is just one example. Jeff and his team discovered that soil conditions indicated the building needed to be supported by Geopiers, a foundation support system with an estimated cost of more than $1 million. Jeff challenged the assumption and wanted to find a better, more cost-effective solution. The team worked with a geotechnical engineer to evaluate an expedited surcharge system on a portion of the building in lieu of Geopiers. To mitigate schedule delays, they installed vertical wick drains to expedite the consolidation period. The strategy was successful and cost less than 25% of the original estimate. Additional cost savings were realized with design features that reduced costs for precast wall panels and roof drain piping costs, as well as for steel. Jeff and his team delivered the project more than $1 million under budget.

Jeff is an impactful and innovative leader who is known for delivering the best possible buildings on time and within budget. With deep knowledge of the industry and a passionate approach to his work, he has established himself as a trusted partner to many repeat clients.

When he’s not working, Jeff likes to travel, ski, golf, and attend his kids’ activities.