Building a Better Community

We know that building a better community takes far more than a capable construction team. It also takes a willingness to pitch in and give back to the people and projects that are changing Utah for the better. That’s why service is a key part of our company’s mission.

Supporting Local Communities in Utah | Judson Construction Company

For us, this means we eagerly support the causes our team members care about most and say “yes” as much as possible. As a result, our impact ranges from supporting national cancer research to donating to area youth baseball teams.

Below, see just some of the ways our team has given back this past year.

The Local Causes We’re Proud to Support:

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Utah

Judson Construction Company began sponsoring Big Brothers Big Sisters of Utah in 2007. We have a personal connection with this group as our president, Matt JUDSON, was a Big Brother himself from 2006 until 2012. Matt saw firsthand the overwhelmingly positive impact this program had on his Little Brother, so we’re proud to continue supporting their mission.

Through one-on-one mentoring of disadvantaged children, Big Brothers Big Sisters helps change the trajectory of kids and teens in Utah. Their impact is impressive: Big Brothers Big Sisters of Utah has matched over 1600 local children with positive mentors. 

The Judson Construction Company team supports Big Brothers Big Sisters of Utah events, including, annual fundraisers like bowling events, golf tournaments, and their Chef & Child event. If you want to get involved, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Utah is always looking for good mentors, especially Big Brothers. Learn more here.

Construction Vs. Cancer

For the second year in a row, Judson Construction Company sponsored Construction Vs. Cancer’s “Big Dig” event. The Big Dig is a fun, fair-like event where children undergoing cancer treatment get an opportunity to operate heavy equipment like excavators, bulldozers, dump trucks, and more. At the end of the day, each child takes home a swag bag full of construction toys.

The Big Dig is a national event run by the American Cancer Society. It moves from city to city throughout the country. This year, the Utah Big Dig was on September 10.

We love lending our expertise to this event; along with donating to the cause, some of our team members bring JUDSON equipment and help kids experience what it’s like to operate our machines from the driver’s seat. When it comes to our service initiatives, this event is certainly one of the most fun and the most memorable. For more information about the Big Dig, visit their website.

Tee It Up Foundation for Cancer Research

Judson Construction Company donates both financial support and time to the Tee It Up Foundation golf tournaments and silent auctions held each June. Played at the Jeremy Ranch Golf and Country Club in Park City, this event is one of North Utah’s most successful for raising funds for cancer research. 

This is a cause close to many of our team members’ hearts, including the JUDSON family. Judson Construction Company Chairman and Founder, Guy JUDSON, is a survivor of Stage 4 cancer who beat the odds thanks to the life-saving treatments from the Huntsman Cancer Institute. Our annual support is a way of showing our gratitude for the impact cancer treatment has on so many lives. To see how you can get involved, visit their website.

Utah Food Bank

No person in our Utah community should go hungry. That’s why we support the Utah Food Bank in its mission to end food insecurity in our state. Last year alone, the Utah Food Bank distributed more than 50 million meals to hungry Utahns across the state, many of them children. Through monetary and in-kind donations, we help keep their shelves stocked. For more information, visit their website. 

Local Youth Organizations We’re Proud To Support:

Various High School Sports Programs in Utah

Judson Construction Company supports several local youth sports teams and clubs. We provide financial support through donations, promotional banners, or event sponsorship. For example, this year, we sponsored a girls wrestling event for the Navajo Nation in Page, Arizona. We also sponsored the belt buckles awarded at a local 4-H youth rodeo event.

Many of our team members’ children participate in the activities we sponsor. They include several sports teams, a few high school cheerleading squads, and more. We support the following teams and clubs that our team members have personal connections to:

• Corner Canyon Baseball 
• Corner Canyon Softball 
• Grantsville Softball
• Cottonwood High School Soccer

Utah Freakz Softball Scrimmage & BBQ

The Utah Freakz softball program, a fastpitch softball program for girls in Utah, hosted its second annual softball scrimmage and barbecue in support of the Down Syndrome Foundation. The program invites local individuals with Downs Syndrome to play in a fast-paced, fun game of softball with the Utah Freakz players acting as mentors, coaches, and cheerleaders throughout the night.

Along with a few other key donors, Judson Construction Company was able to provide a rented field and full barbecue spread for close to 350 people! It was a special night; the players showed pure joy in how they played the game and quickly developed a very special bond with all the girls that came to coach and support them.

This is now an annual event that our Judson Construction Company team is looking forward to supporting next year, too. To learn more, visit the Utah Down Syndrome Foundation website.

We Build Better Communities, One Project & Cause at a Time

At Judson Construction Company, we are proud to be building a legacy that extends beyond our job sites. By keeping service at the heart of our organization, we’re making Utah a better place to live for our team and our customers. 

If this is a mission you believe in too, view our current job openings and consider becoming a part of our team.

The post In the Community: How Judson Construction Company Gives Back appeared first on Judson Construction Company.

You may not believe it now, but in 2015, our heavy earthwork machinery inventory consisted of a single backhoe, a couple of skid steers, and a mini excavator. But as a construction company in Utah, In just seven years, we’ve grown rapidly. Our team now completes some of the largest heavy civil and industrial projects in the Intermountain West.

With the pace of growth we’ve experienced, we needed partners who could keep up. We’re proud to say Komatsu has been one of our strongest partnerships, giving Judson Construction Company the tools it needs to succeed.

Komatsu Rises to the Challenge

Our Vice President, Troy Johnson, says, “Over the last few years, we’ve been one of the larger earthmoving contractors in the area. If Komatsu had not stepped up and provided what we needed, we wouldn’t be where we are today.”

As our scope of projects has increased, the team at Komatsu’s Rocky Mountain Region hasn’t skipped a beat. Jim Slade, the territory manager, as well as Garin Humphrey and Lynn Holt, find what we need when we need it.

“On any given day, we may need 20 haul trucks, five excavators, and eight dozers; that’s just the world we live in now,” Troy says. “When we need it, we need it fast. Komatsu delivers — and then has the support to serve it along the way.”

More Than Just Equipment

Matt JUDSON, our President, agrees that Komatsu’s attention to service is what really seals the deal. “We love our Komatsu equipment; we think they have great technology, but if the service and the partnership weren’t there, it wouldn’t be a good fit for us.” 

Since Judson Construction Company relies on being a problem-solver for our clients, we needed to find an equipment supplier who could do the same thing for us. “As not just a supplier but a partner, we can lean on Komatsu for different ideas,” Matt says. “We can give them a heads up when we’re going after large projects, and they make sure we get the equipment we need with competitive pricing.”

Komatsu + JUDSON: A Case Study of Success

A recent mine reclamation project was a perfect example of why Komatsu is a valuable partner for us. The Komatsu team dedicated a mechanic to our project, guaranteeing less downtime when issues came up. On top of that, their equipment made the project run more efficiently. Our team used the Komatsu D155AX-8 and D375A-8 dozers. These dozers ended up saving our operators time when they got to the bottom of the steep slopes after a push. Unlike the competitor’s model we were used to, these dozers could back up the hill. Without the need to turn around after each push, we improved productivity. 

Other recent projects completed with Komatsu equipment include a waste rock reclamation project in Bingham Canyon, Utah’s first lithium plant, and more.

Read Our Recent Feature in Komatsu Connections

As we continue to scale and grow, it’s reassuring to have a partner who makes sure access to equipment never slows us down. Komatsu’s ability to meet our needs is helping us fulfill our client’s needs, too.

We’re proud to be featured in Komatsu’s latest edition of Komatsu Connections. Read the full article to learn more about our continuing partnership.

The post Our Transition Into Heavy Civil With the Support of Komatsu Equipment appeared first on Judson Construction Company.

This modern space in Draper, custom-designed for our team, makes collaboration, communication, and commitment to our craft easier and more inspiring than ever. Here’s a look inside our new space, to help you see what working at Judson Construction Company is really like. 

THE BACKSTORY

Our new digs mean more when you know where we came from. Judson Construction Company was started in 1986 by Guy JUDSON. During the early years of business when the team was lean, an office space wasn’t a priority. In fact, our company kept costs low and convenience high by working at Guy’s house for many years. It may not have been glamorous, but at the time, it was all we needed.

While it was cost-efficient, our lack of office space wasn’t something we could sustain if we wanted to scale. So, in 2009, we decided to build our first building in Sandy. Over the next 10 years, business grew. As our staff expanded, we quickly filled each office; conference rooms had become offices and space was at a premium. By 2018, our team was feeling the growing pains and we saw the need to start planning another move. 

In 2018, we relocated our equipment yard to an 8-acre property in Salt Lake City to make space in Draper for the future home of JUDSON’s new, larger, office space. Then, the planning began.

CUSTOM DESIGNED JUST FOR US

When it came time to decide what our new office would look like, we knew we wanted to be involved. We didn’t want just any cookie-cutter office space. We also didn’t want to rush into another building that wouldn’t serve us long-term. 

So, we took our time and put thought into every decision. We listened to employee feedback to make the space reflect our culture, team, and day-to-day work. A close partnership with AJC Architects out of Salt Lake City was critical to this design; they were able to translate our ideas into practical interior spaces. Over the course of a year, we fine-tuned the layout, features, and finishes of the space.

A SHOWCASE OF OUR WORK

As an industrial and infrastructure general contractor that fulfills design plans day in and day out, the construction of our own space was a rare opportunity to take the reigns and be creative. We incorporated many of the design or structural elements we construct for our clients. Exposed concrete, steel, and other highly durable building materials reflect our industrial niche and give our space a modern aesthetic.

We’re proud to say that Judson Construction Company crews performed all the site utility work, grading, concrete work, and steel erection as the building took shape in the summer of 2020. Our own team made the building possible, and we experience our commitment to quality every day when we walk through the doors. 

FEATURES

Our office stays busy throughout the week, buzzing with team meetings, trainings, group hangouts at lunch, and celebrations of project wins. It’s a place we feel comfortable in, knowing it’s our home for the long-haul; we made sure to build it large enough to adapt with us as we grow over the coming years. Here are just a few of the features that make our office a great place to work:

Private Offices

While an open office is trendy, it wasn’t what our team wanted. Here, everyone has their own private office. Most are outfitted with a large A/V display that makes it easy to present, brainstorm, and discuss as a group. And since our building was built with room to spare, we have additional huddle rooms where employees from different departments or teams can huddle together to work through projects more efficiently. 

War Rooms & Training Center

The “war room” is like the command center of our office. As our largest conference room, with room for 15-20 people, it is used daily. Professional A/V design makes meetings more efficient and valuable; a large projector screen and four digital displays deliver seamless, professional presentations and intuitive tech integrations to every discussion.

Similarly, the field “war room” gives our superintendents and field supervisors space to plan and manage our boots on the ground work. A physical tracking system (including each staff member’s photo and name) can be moved along magnetic walls to give them a hands-on process for strategizing projects and mitigating resource issues. 

Our large field training center in the building acts as an in-house educational center. Outfitted with computer stations, it helps us easily maintain and improve our commitment to certifications and education for field staff. 

Gong

We’ve always celebrated when someone lands a project, but for the new office, we wanted to up our game. Our 30 inch gong puts our old bid bell to shame. Now, when someone receives news that a bid was accepted, they run to ring the gong to alert the whole office. It’s a great way to celebrate our wins together as we go — and create a little friendly competition in the process.

Employee Recreation Addition

Soon after the building was completed, we repurposed an underused warehouse to give our employees recreation and fitness space on-site.

Physical health is something we have always supported with our employees. So in addition to paying for their gym memberships, we wanted to convert the warehouse space into a CrossFit style gym. We outfitted the space with Rogue equipment purchased from a local gym and now an employee-led fitness program is available to any employee free of charge. We even added batting cages that our employees and their families take advantage of during the winter months

Plans are currently in the works to convert the warehouse rooftop into a patio where employees can gather when the weather is nice. With a BBQ area and yard games, it’ll be an escape from the office with great mountain views. 

Kitchen & Common Area

Our old office kitchen was tiny and strictly functional. We knew we wanted to change that. 

Our new kitchen and break area is open and spacious with stainless steel appliances and sleek quartz countertops. It’s now the go-to spot for gathering during lunch or breakfast. We keep it stocked with coffee, drinks, and snacks and ESPN is always playing on TVs in the background. 

LOVE OUR SPACE? THERE’S ROOM ON OUR TEAM

Our new building is proof that an office is about more than having desk space. Its value is in improving how our team works by giving them the space and resources they need to connect and problem solve whenever or however they need. Our new space makes our company a better place to work and which also improves the quality of our work. 

If you’re looking for a career in engineering and construction management in Utah (with all the perks listed here and more), take a look at our open positions to see if our new office can be yours, too. 

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Pouring a Concrete Foundation | Judson Construction Company

Concrete cures through a hydration process, therefore, weather can adversely affect your concrete pour. This is why many projects are delayed due to rainstorms. However, did you know that your concrete pour can also be affected by extremely hot or cold weather too? If you are planning an industrial concrete construction project, Judson Construction Company offers these tips for working with concrete in any weather.

Pouring Concrete In Cold Weather

If you are pouring an industrial concrete construction project in cold weather, defined by the American Concrete Institute below 40 degrees Fahrenheit, your concrete could shrink and crack during freeze and thaws. 

To pour concrete during colder weather, do the following:

• Don’t pour on frozen ground. Remove snow and ice and expose the ground to the early morning sun to warm it up. 
• Make sure that any items that will be embedded in the concrete are above freezing. Don’t allow concrete to come into contact with items that are below freezing, such as rebar.
• Schedule your pour early in the morning and use a quick-set product in the concrete to speed up curing times. 
• Use the right water-to-mix ratio. Too much water in your mixture or not enough will create problems during the curing stage. If the water in the mixture freezes, it could cause the concrete to weaken and crack.
• Use a heated mix.
• Use concrete curing blankets for at least three days, or set up a heated enclosure.

Pouring Concrete In Hot Weather

On the surface, it appears that pouring concrete in hot weather is ideal, but that’s not always so. Hot weather industrial concrete construction pours are affected by the humidity levels. Too dry, and concrete will cure too quickly and will not set correctly. This can cause weak concrete since hydration is what strengthens concrete. 

Hot weather over 90 degrees Fahrenheit or high humidity can affect the pH levels in concrete and weaken the concrete. It may also increase microbial growth in the concrete. Mold and microbes could affect the safety of the people in the building or area. 

To pour concrete during hot weather, do the following:

• Use large aggregates or hot weather admixtures like plastic additives to increase setting times so the concrete is stronger
• Use an industrial chiller, or request chilled water to mix your concrete
• Pour during cooler hours of the day. Avoid the late afternoon after the site has been baking in the sun all day. Pour in the evening and allow the concrete to set overnight
• Don’t overmix
• Spray down the subgrade or any forms
• Work quickly to get the concrete down and formed

Other Tips For Your Industrial Concrete Construction Project

When possible, avoid pouring concrete during rainstorms or other inclement weather. If you cannot delay a project any longer, try shielding the site and use industrial-grade machines to dry out the area. Make sure you have appropriate drainage and divert rainwater or snow away from the site. Avoid mixing additional water into your concrete mixture.

Finally, hire a reputable industrial concrete construction company that is experienced in concrete construction in your area and is familiar with weather patterns. Judson Construction Company services the Northwestern area and other states. We have field offices with highly trained construction teams in the following areas:

• Arizona
• California
• Colorado
• Idaho
• Montana
• Nevada
• New Mexico
• Utah
• Wyoming

If you have any questions about how to schedule and plan your next industrial concrete construction project, contact Judson Construction Company or call us at (409) 303-4200. We can help advise your next concrete pour and schedule your project during any season, regardless of the weather conditions. 

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Mistakes in excavation and embankment during construction can lead to costly and hazardous conditions, including broken pipe and utility lines, sinkholes, cracked foundations, improperly set footings, and more. This step of construction is so critical to the entire operation’s success that it takes an entire dedicated, experienced team to execute properly.

Whether the contract involves moving thousands of cubic yards of material, or just a few smaller excavations, the excavation company you select should have specialists who analyze the site for soil composition, field measurements, and local environmental concerns.

Here are just a few ways that Judson Construction Company identifies and guards against potential mistakes in earthwork and excavation construction.

Protect Pipe and Utility Lines

Buried pipes, sewer laterals, and utility lines can represent a grave hazard to both the environment and workers if broken. Underground lines are broken every six minutes in the United States due to improper planning before digging with nearly 450,000 incidents recorded in 2019 alone.

When a line is broken, construction must stop, authorities must be notified, and usually, an investigation occurs. These can lead to costly and expensive delays. And in worst-case scenarios, these accidents can lead to injuries and deaths.

Professional excavation construction companies know that they must arrange for a proper survey of all public utilities. Gas lines, water lines, oil lines, sewer pipes, and electrical lines should be mapped, marked with a color code, and properly protected during any excavation project. 

However, these are not the only subterranean hazards that can cause problems during excavation. A complete analysis of the site can identify any potential problems and proper planning can go a long way in preventing any accidents. 

Some common mistakes when excavating near pipe and utility lines include:

• Not conducting a full survey
• Failing to account for other subterranean conditions and hazards including buried rocks, water tables, or other issues.
• Driving heavy machinery over the top of lines
• Improper soil compaction
• Not being OSHA trained or compliant

Our team ensures proper excavation by surveying the site, conducting soil analysis, working closely with local utilities and municipalities to comply with local regulations, and by assigning a project coordinator that inspects the site daily.

Site Preparation

Before construction begins, the site must be physically walked in addition to doing surveys and terrain maps. This will give the excavation company an idea of the type of vegetation they will encounter, existing structures that need to be removed, any environmental hazards that might be present, and other issues that need to be resolved before the project begins.

Next, a complete survey of the land must be done. 

These geophysical surveys will give the excavation construction team the plan for where the building or road will be placed and how the land must be graded to accommodate the structure.

For some buildings or roads, cuts and embankments must be formed and the area leveled. During this part of the construction process, surveyors will mark the area and provide a guided plan to the project engineer. 

Improper planning or mistakes at this phase could lead to construction delays and other job site hazards. 

Finally, the soil must be analyzed with attention to soil swell and shrinkage factors. This leads us to the next phase.

Soil Testing & Analysis

This phase of site preparation is soil analysis.

Soil engineers will drill for core samples to get an accurate reading of the subterranean conditions and to understand the soil’s composition. Mistakes at this stage of the process can lead to:

• Building failure
• Soil collapse
• Hazardous job conditions
• Trench collapse during trench excavation

To get an accurate reading of the site, a soil engineer will conduct the following tests:

• Moisture content test
• Atterberg limits tests
• The specific gravity of soil
• The dry density of soil
• Compaction (Proctor’s) test

Earthwork Excavation and Compaction

Once all of the factors are known, the project manager can draft a plan of how to proceed with the project. Heavy machinery will be mobilized and the earthwork scope will begin.  Our team will actively survey the site daily.

To get a bid on your next earthwork and excavation project, call us at Judson Construction Company or learn more about our excavation construction process. 

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JUDSON’s team were proud winners of the Associated General Contractors of Utah‘s Highway Specialty Construction Project of the Year for building Utah’s first cable restraint escape truck ramp.

The construction team, engineers – Kimley-Horn, Beason Brackin & Associates, LLC, and client, Utah Department of Transportation all worked together with one common goal, to produce a successful project.

We love projects like this that make the roads we travel safer. Next time you go to Bear Lake, be sure to check it out!

The post Utah AGC 2020 Specialty Construction Project – Highway/Transportation Division appeared first on Judson Construction Company.

By 2025, the augmented reality (AR) industry is projected to be worth more than $571 billion, growing 63.3% in seven years. The wide-spread growth of this technology includes its uses in the construction industry. Since the inception of augmented reality, construction companies have found ways of adopting AR to improve project efficiency. It is quickly becoming a standardized tool on most job sites. 

Augmented reality provides a digital overlay of real-world views to interpret, understand, and construct projects using various data points and site personnel. AR’s detailed design information includes precise 3-D drawings, site analysis, productivity statistics, and safety warnings.

As AR technology matures, it has the ability to transform the entire future of construction. Judson Construction Company, a heavy civil contractor, gathered details about augmented reality’s current role in the construction industry and what you can expect to see in the coming years. 

How Augmented Reality Works

Augmented reality combines real and digital environments for a completely immersive experience. AR uses GPS and camera technology to display 3D imagery of surrounding physical environments, using specialized equipment, including mobile devices and helmets.

AR unit capabilities include presenting accurate data geospatially while updating and displaying the information as it moves. Users can also find information like schedules, operational details, and structural plans using AR technology, which helps automate construction processes in real-time.

How is AR Used in the Construction Industry

Augmented reality in construction depends on the real-time information feature to boost project efficiency, improve employee safety, streamline collaboration, manage costs, and improve client confidence. Here are some of the functions of augmented reality that heavy civil contractors are currently using:

Project Design and Development 

Augmented reality allows designers in heavy civil construction to understand the job site and project needs more in-depth. AR displays the environmental and social impacts visually while showcasing the result on a detailed level.  

Using AR, designers, architects, contractors, and clients can collaborate, using models that fully showcase the project. Clients can then make decisions based on the current plan and adjust as needed.

 Accurate Measurements

Augmented reality technology can measure project elements, including depth, height, and width of a space. By incorporating augmented reality in design models, a heavy civil contractor team will accurately determine dimensions and comprehensively display how the project will look once complete.

 These measurements also allow contractors to accurately determine the necessary labor hours and materials needed for the project, which cuts costs.

 Real-Time Revisions

One of the most useful advantages of using augmented reality in construction is seeing how design features fit the site before implementing them. This technology increases project visibility, which in turn improves material and labor estimates.

Workers can automatically measure built pieces and compare them to the specified measurements from a model with on-site AR technology. These discoveries allow contractors to make on-site revisions when any inconsistencies appear.

Safety and Inspection

Improving project safety is an industry-standard among heavy civil contractor firms and a priority for Judson Construction Company. Augmented reality software also improves job site safety. AR technology devices help transform job-site operations by accurately inspecting a site and comparing them against as-built structures. These features eliminate the traditional, time-extensive manual inspection process, which also saves time and cuts costs.

An inspector can use AR to capture photos on-demand or retrieve notes from location sites. This improved process helps identify compromised areas and other serious concerns instantaneously.

What to Expect of AR in Construction in the Future

As augmented reality evolves, easy-to-use applications will enhance the technology. From minimizing errors to offering insight, augmented reality in construction can effectively streamline the entire project lifecycle. Companies investing in this innovative technology are already enjoying the benefits. 

One technology already seeing tremendous growth is AR headsets. In 2021, commercial AR headsets are projected to occupy 82.5 percent of the entire AR headset market. This updated AR technology will improve productivity by streamlining project assembly processes. Companies will soon discover that giving workers the information they need at their fingertips will increase project efficiency exponentially.

Although some construction firms have implemented AR already, we can expect more to join as the technology becomes more readily available. To learn how Judson Construction Company’s, a heavy civil contractor, plans on using augmented reality technologies in the future, contact us. 

Request a bid to get started designing your project.

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Judson Construction Company won 2 prestigious awards from Engineering News-Record for Best Construction Project and Excellence in Safety for the Mountain States. View the award by clicking the link below:

https://www.enr.com/articles/50308-energyindustrial-best-project-excellence-in-safety-best-project-us-magnesium-lithium-plant

US Magnesium Lithium Plant
Rowley, Utah
Best Projects

Owner: US Magnesium
Lead Design Firm: Job Industrial Services Inc.
General Contractor: Judson Construction Company Co.
Subcontractors: Aluma Steel; GEM Buildings; Jones Excavating; Harris Rebar; JD Steel; Petrochem; Staker Parson Cos.; Wasatch Electric

Utah’s first lithium plant will process 10,000 tons of high-grade lithium per year from stockpiled magnesium by-products. The $60-million, state-of-the-art facility will produce 99.9% pure lithium carbonate for batteries in electric vehicles, cell phones, laptops, and other electronics.

The process of extracting lithium from raw materials includes several stages of chemical extraction, product cleaning, and phase changes that have been organized into distinct areas within the new plant.

The plant’s design provides operators and maintenance personnel with carefully located access platforms, ladders, and stairs; suitable equipment spacing; and organized corridors for pipe and electrical tray and cable. Extensive use of structural steel allows operators to easily travel inside and outside buildings and above and around equipment.

The construction team proposed a plan to expedite the procurement process and allow construction to begin at 40% design. With the fast-track schedule, earthwork, concrete installation, steel erection, piping, and equipment setting all took place at the same time.

JUDSON ensures that every new employee is mentored and monitored for a minimum of one month by another employee, a process that expedites integrating new personnel into the contractor’s safety culture. The project peaked with more than 150 craft personnel and more than 100,000 self-performed work hours with no recordable incidents or injuries.

JUDSON ensures that every new employee is mentored and monitored for a minimum of one month by another employee, a process that expedites integrating new personnel into the contractor’s safety culture. The project peaked with more than 150 craft personnel and more than 100,000 self-performed work hours with no recordable incidents or injuries.

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One of the major questions that came up repeatedly during the initial outbreak of COVID-19 was, “What jobs are essential and why?” It was an issue that every state government had to make. Some industries shut down, others adapted to a working from home model, while those labeled essentials pressed forward, taking as many necessary safety precautions as possible.

The construction industry found itself in limbo. New state mandates determined whether operations continued, slowed, or stopped entirely. At this time, most states listed construction as one of the few industries and businesses considered essential.

While Utah (where our headquarters is located) never had a statewide “stay at home” or “shelter in place” order, Governor Gary Herbert issued a “Stay Safe, Stay Home” directive on March 27, 2020. It was then left to the county government to decide if further measures were necessary.

As the economy starts opening back up on an even larger scale, there are many lessons that we can learn. Let’s discuss what those are, particularly for those in construction.

Construction is Essential (but with some exceptions)

As mentioned before, most states deemed construction work as essential, but why? At its most basic level, the construction industry provides critical services for all residents. From structures for public safety and welfare to buildings that facilitate daily activities, construction work maintains and improves our nation’s infrastructure. Not to mention providing the labor for energy and communication systems, roads, bridges, and infrastructure such as police, fire, and healthcare facilities.

If another similar scenario happens again, governments and its population must recognize the importance of this work. There will always be a risk of contracting infectious diseases in any line of work. Fortunately for construction, most job sites have a working structure already in place that limits interaction.

Health and Safety Should Always Be Our Core Value

Along with limited social interaction, construction sites are also tightly controlled, with safety topping the list of priorities for any project. Health, wellness, and safety should never be a question for any construction worker. However, now is the time where all in the construction industry can renew that commitment.

Every organization in the industry (down to the individual contractor level) should take time to reflect on any standards they might be missing. Judson Construction Company commits to doing the same and communicating any updated techniques to every level of our organization, no matter the job.

Since its inception, JUDSON held a longstanding belief that all worksite injuries, occupational illnesses, and environmental incidents are preventable. That is why our number one commitment is to have none of them.

The last few months have only deepened that dedication. Health and safety will remain our first priority and at the core of our company values. Along with implementing programs that monitor health, we conduct regular training sessions to ensure that every JUDSON employee understands any new safety standards and requirements.

The Construction Industry Can Quickly Adapt

The outbreak of COVID-19 and its resulting events also proved that the construction industry knows how to adapt. When some cities limited the type of construction work allowed during the period, construction companies found ways to restructure.

Many leaders in the industry personally communicated with government officials to learn what practices they should implement. Since the pandemic rapidly changed week-to-week, construction businesses did their best to stay ahead of the curve and take any advice given.

Even as many states allowed construction to continue, some businesses figured out ways to cut back on interaction and limit the spread. These changes included digital communication with workers and clients, closing sites that were less essential than others, and setting up health protocols for those in the field. A few other actions made include:

• Limiting the number of employees in work crews
• Maintaining social distancing whenever possible
• Staggering work periods and discouraging communal meetings
• Delivering job-wide communications digitally
• Holding in-person meetings in spaces that allow social distancing

Learning the Coronavirus Takeaways with Judson Construction Company

While the pandemic isn’t over, the team at Judson Construction Company is continuing to adapt as we go. Our team understands the importance of health and safety on our projects. We work with our clients figuring out what is best for everyone involved.

We also recognize the need for company growth, but never put the quality of our client’s projects or safety of our team at risk. That is why when we pursue a project, we ensure that our team has the experience, expertise, and capacity to make it successful. All of these commitments remain true in the light of future events and as we move forward in our work.

To learn more about how Judson Construction Company works, contact us. We would love to discuss your project and figure out a way of getting it done safely.

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Project managing at a self-performing civil, structural and mechanical construction company—seems to go hand-in-hand, right? Well, working as a senior project manager at a reputable company like Judson Construction Company involves a lot more than you might expect. Whether you are drawing up a detailed plan for an upcoming project or overseeing a series of projects, there are fascinating corners a project manager navigates every day.

Jeff Jones, Senior Project Manager at JUDSON, sat down to discuss what his day-to-day looks like and how working at Judson Construction Company differs from other construction companies. He helped us fully understand the ways clients rely on project managers during the entire construction process and how life changes working at a private industrial and transportation focused construction company. Here is an in-depth look at what Jones and other team members at JUDSON experience daily.

Project Managing: The Core of Any Good Project

Industrial and transportation construction managers today must use their experience and know-how to adapt to the changing world. At its core, project managing is the glue holding the entire construction process together. Ask one of our clients, and the chances are they will explain how well their project manager worked to get their interests met. That is because our project managers are primarily in charge of keeping clients updated on the latest happenings with their projects. Along with being a client liaison, project managers also track costs, set-up sub-contractors, handle weekly communication meetings, perform material submittals, and permitting. All in all, whatever the project needs, the project manager is there all-hands-on-deck. While Judson Construction Company follows the general project manager outline, the entire experience is different for Jones.

Jones only joined JUDSON at the beginning of 2020. Only three months into his work with our company, Jones already notices the difference between JUDSON and his past construction experiences. He explained, “While the work is similar, it is completely different environments. We are a family at JUDSON, unlike other companies I’ve worked at where I felt like I was just a number.”

The JUDSON Difference

When a client comes to JUDSON asking for a bid, our team begins by determining if the project is a good fit for us. If we bid on the project, we don’t always come in at the cheapest cost. However, we are very transparent in the reasonings behind our bids. We want our newly formed relationships to be beneficial for both our client and us. If that means losing out on a project, that is alright with us. We want our clients to feel comfortable and satisfied with the entire process as well as the final result. Along with worrying about our clients, finding spot-on projects is also helpful for our team.

Along with our unique bidding process, Jones notes how working for the company differs from his past employers. “Of course, salary is great. But more than anything, it is that smaller-company feel that made JUDSON the best choice for me. There are also more friendships and a more personable worker-boss relationship,” said Jones.

JUDSON prides itself on making daily life for our employers the best experience possible. We are trying our best to create a culture that gets our workers excited to get to work each morning. That includes working hard, doing the best job we can, and having fun while we do it. Since focusing on our work culture, our employee engagement continues to rise.

Another way we are continually checking in on employee morale is by looking at the progress of each project, which is a large portion of Jones’s job as Senior Project Manager. “If a project isn’t going well, the first thing we notice is the morale of our employees drops,” said Matt JUDSON, President of Judson Construction Company .“Often we see that when a project is behind, our employee engagement is low. When that happens, we make sure to look for ways that we, as management, can support them.”

JUDSON believes that by continually checking in on the progress of every project ensures that things go smoothly—for workers and the project as a whole. “We believe that project morale feeds into company morale. The more we support our employees and be the voice of positivity on a project, the better the results will see,” said JUDSON.

Working at Judson Construction Company

Judson Construction Company’s ability to navigate projects and execute thoughtful make us second to none. Jones highly praises JUDSON for its family feel. Not only does it feel good to be appreciated, but it makes your work feel worthwhile when someone notices. When we hire new employees, we take note of their attitude. A prospective worker can have an excellent track record, but if they have the wrong attitude, JUDSON will probably not be the best fit.

Throughout our years in the industrial construction industry, we have noticed the difference a positive attitude can have on the job site. Negativity can drain energy and make it difficult to come to work. Just as negativity can hurt a project, the opposite is true. Our team focuses our efforts on promoting positivity on a one-on-one basis.

“Many times, we’ve had to part ways with people who were unable to fix their attitude—even senior-level people,” said JUDSON. “That’s why we’re determined to recruit positive team players who work well with others.”

JUDSON also puts a significant emphasis on the safety of every employee.

JUDSON further explains, “Even if someone gets a small injury, then it doesn’t hurt us overall, but it hurts their life outside of work. That’s why we set up projects that not only work safely but keep our people safe. Keeping our people safe is our top priority. It’s really a part of how we built our company.”

Judson Construction Company

As an industrial and transportation construction firm that spends a lot of hours working as a team, we are continually pushing to create an environment that our employees enjoy on and off the job site. You can learn more about our culture by contacting us today.

What more would you like to know about working in construction? We’d love to hear your thoughts on why Judson Construction Company interests you and what we can do better. Comment your thoughts below or call one of our team members!

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