One could argue that the construction of the West Haymarket Arena will be the largest and most-notable construction project to occur in Lincoln in over 50 years. The centerpiece of the city’s West Haymarket redevelopment project, many view the arena as not only an entertainment venue, but also a source of great civic pride. Such a high-profile project requires the skill, knowledge, and expertise of a reputable Construction Manager at Risk.
Hampton Enterprises, working in conjunction with Mortenson Construction, is serving the role of Construction Manager at Risk on the West Haymarket Arena Project. As Construction Manager at Risk, the Mortenson-Hampton team will be responsible for coordinating and managing all aspects of construction on the West Haymarket Arena, including the procuring of all sub-contractor services. As Construction Manager at Risk, Mortenson-Hampton will also be responsible for setting the guaranteed maximum price (GMP) and making sure the project comes in on time and on budget.
Headquartered in Lincoln, Hampton Enterprises specializes in building, leasing, developing, and renovating commercial properties. For more than 60 years, Hampton Enterprises has exceeded clients’ expectations by delivering more quality, more services, more knowledge, more desire, and the willingness to go above and beyond. Recent projects that Hampton has been involved with include the remodel of the University of Nebraska College of Law, the additions to the Lancaster Event Center, two new elementary schools in Kearney, and the construction and leasing of the Veterans Affairs Regional Office to name just a few . Hampton’s project partner, Mortenson Construction is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota and is viewed as a leader in the sports construction industry. Mortenson has overseen the construction of venues such as the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado, the YUM! Center in Louisville, Kentucky, and Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Bob Caldwell, President/CEO for Hampton Enterprises, spoke with great pride about the new Hampton/Mortenson partnership. When asked what influenced Hampton’s decision to work with Mortenson Construction rather than other large, national construction companies, Caldwell stressed the similarities that both companies had toward the construction process.
“About a year before the project started, we started our search for a national partner. After we met the Mortenson folks, we knew it was a natural fit. They, like us, are a family-owned business. They’re on their third generation. We have very similar cultures…our focus is on the customer and quality. We don’t have to meet quarterly earning targets. We just have to meet the expectations of our clients…we really wanted a national partner that had a reputation in the industry of being on time and on budget and that really fit with Mortenson.”
With arena designs still in the process of being finalized, Caldwell said that Mortenson-Hampton is currently in the “pre-construction phase,” which mainly consists of weekly meetings with design professionals discussing project estimations, design concerns, and constructability questions. Caldwell also stated that he believed the first request for contractors would come this summer and would involve the ‘footings and foundations package.’
In speaking of the arena project, Caldwell said a major misconception is that Mortenson will be bringing in a large number of out-of-town and out-of-state workers. Caldwell stated that, in reality, “only a handful of Mortenson employees will be in Lincoln” and that “those individuals will be working strictly on the corporate-level.” When it comes to the actual building of the arena, Caldwell said there will be a laser-like focus on local subcontracting. “Our commitment is to make sure as many local people—and local companies—get an opportunity to build this arena…Everybody will have the opportunity to submit a proposal. It will be a very open process to find the best value to build this arena—with a focus on local jobs. In fact, a part of our scoring criteria will be whether it is local labor and a local company…The workers that are going to build this arena—the labor that is going to build this arena—are predominantly going to be Lincoln workers…”
If you have any questions regarding Hampton Enterprises, the new Mortenson-Hampton partnership, or the general construction of the West Haymarket Arena, please email us at info@haymarketnow.com.
- HaymarketNOW!
