When Columbia Public Schools needed a new gymnasium and locker rooms for Jefferson Middle School, they faced two common construction challenges: a tight budget and an inflexible deadline. The building had to be ready when students returned.
Most general contractors would have bid the project as designed and hoped for the best. We took a different approach.
The Challenge
The original design specified steel bar joists and metal deck for the gymnasium roof structure. It’s a standard approach that works fine — when schedules cooperate and budgets have room for contingencies.
But this project had neither. Columbia Public Schools needed the work completed during summer break, and the budget had limited flexibility. Plus, the bar joist delivery schedule presented a problem that could have delayed the entire project.
The Value Engineering Solution
Our team proposed an alternative: precast double tee roof structures instead of the specified steel system.
This wasn’t about cutting corners. It was about finding a smarter structural solution that delivered better results across multiple metrics.
The precast approach accomplished three things:
- Saved $365,000 from the project budget
- Accelerated the construction schedule by three months
- Solved the bar joist delivery problem that threatened to cause delays
Why Most Contractors Miss These Opportunities
Value engineering requires specific capabilities that typical general contractors don’t have.
First, you need professional engineers on staff who can evaluate structural alternatives and provide stamped calculations. Most general contractors don’t employ engineers — they rely entirely on the design team’s specifications.
Second, you need in-house concrete expertise to understand how precast systems perform and how to integrate them into the construction sequence. Contractors who subcontract all concrete work don’t have that knowledge.
Third, you need to identify these opportunities early, before the project goes out to bid. Once construction starts, your options for major system changes become limited and expensive.
As Vaughn Prost, our company president and a professional engineer, puts it: “We are not a ‘suitcase’ general contractor who comes to town and mans the project with one superintendent and subcontracts all the work.”
Project Scope and Completion
The $11 million Jefferson Middle School project included:
- New gymnasium with precast double tee roof system
- Modern locker rooms for students and visitors
- ADA-compliant entrances and accessibility upgrades throughout
- Connecting corridors, elevators, and stairways
- All work completed on time for the start of the school year
Construction Project Manager Richard Northeimer and Superintendent Ben Rademan led the Prost team through the entire project, coordinating with Columbia Public Schools to minimize disruption and meet the hard deadline.
The Academic Calendar Factor
School construction operates under different rules than typical commercial projects. When the bell rings in August, the building must be ready. There’s no flexibility, no extension requests, no “we’ll finish up while school is in session.”
This reality makes value engineering even more critical. Finding ways to accelerate the schedule isn’t just about convenience — it’s about managing risk and ensuring the district can open on time.
A Personal Connection
Vaughn Prost played basketball in the old Jefferson Junior High School gymnasium decades ago. After seeing the completed renovation, he can attest that the new facility is a major improvement for students and the Columbia community.
What This Means for Your Project
If you’re planning an educational facility, commercial building, or any substantial construction project, the contractor you choose makes a difference in both final cost and delivered value.
Look for contractors who:
- Self-perform critical work (concrete and structural systems)
- Have professional engineers on staff
- Can identify value engineering opportunities early
- Understand your operational constraints (like school calendars)
- Have a track record of on-time, on-budget delivery
The $365,000 we saved Columbia Public Schools went back into the district’s budget for other needs. That’s the kind of outcome that comes from working with a contractor who sees their role as more than just building to spec.
Planning a project with budget or schedule constraints? Contact us to discuss how our engineering expertise and self-performance capabilities can add value to your project. Or learn more about our work in Columbia.