Elise Kirchhofer, the new engineering services director at McCownGordon Construction, said mechanical, electrical and plumbing engineering can account for 30 to 40 percent of a project's construction cost.
One way project owners can keep that cost down, Kirchhofer added, is to select a construction management firm, such as McCownGordon, with engineers on staff to help assure quality, mitigate risks and add value.
The marriage of construction and engineering services to add value and improve projects for clients is nothing new. One local engineering firm, Burns & McDonnell, for instance has added construction services in recent years. And NorthPoint Development, one of the area's leading industrial developers, has gained an edge by using engineers as project managers to help clients design and build smarter manufacturing, warehousing and distribution facilities.
McCownGordon's engineering services team has grown to 10 members who specialize in mechanical, electrical, plumbing and structural engineering, as well as building science and virtual construction, Kirchhofer said. As director of the team, she will lead strategic planning and project delivery, while driving continuous improvement and operational efficiency and effectiveness.
"We are delighted that Elise has joined our team," Ramin Cherafat, who will take over as CEO of McCownGordon in January, said in a release. "Her background and drive to provide best-in-class engineering services is perfectly aligned with our firm's core values of integrity, performance and relationships. Her goal for the team is to continue to enhance the quality and value we deliver and ensure that projects are delivered on budget, ahead of schedule with the maximum level of quality possible."
Kirchhofer said she and the rest of the engineering services team will engage with projects from the earliest stages of design and stay engaged through preconstruction and construction.
"Our team adds value for our clients and partners by helping them optimize project design, offer solutions to design-related challenges and provide specialized expertise to optimize building systems," she said.
Kirchhofer brings more than 20 years of industry experience to the role. Most recently, she served as director of project management services for global commercial real estate services giant CBRE. Prior to that, Kirchhofer served 15 years with Lenexa-based Henderson Engineers, where she was named as a vice president.
The McCownGordon engineering services team also includes Joe Vyhanek, who leads a staff of mechanical, plumbing and electrical engineering professionals. Vyhanek, who has 35 years of experience, joined the firm in April.
In addition to Vyhanek and Kirchhofer, McCownGordon recently added Erika Winters-Downey to its engineering services team. Winters-Downey, who has more than 17 years of experience in the industry, previously served as the Great Plains regional engineer for the American Institute of Steel Construction, where she assessed the viability of structural steel framing options on upcoming projects. She also served as an resource on technical and economic aspects of building with structural steel — a service she can now offer to McCownGordon clients.
"McCownGordon's engineering services team provides unparalleled value for our clients," said Chris Vaeth, the firm's vice president of preconstruction. "Our collaborative, experienced approach brings us alongside our clients and their design team to deliver best value, accelerate the delivery of construction, improve coordination and minimize costs at every opportunity. Collectively, this team has experience delivering some of the most complex projects in the region."
Kansas City-based McCownGordon is currently performing construction management services for a variety of significant projects in the region, including the Central District development on the campus of the University of Kansas in Lawrence, the renovation of Kemper Arena into the new Mosaic Arena, the Children's Mercy Research Tower, the conversion of the old Savoy Hotel & Grill into a 21c Museum Hotel, and renovation of the of Kansas City Club at 13th Street and Baltimore Avenue.