Sam Bogle

Crossland Purchases Pitsco Education

An unexpected partnership with a lot of potential!

Crossland’s recent purchase of Pitsco, a well-established STEM curriculum-based company in Southeast Kansas, was an unusual pairing to most. However, once you take a deeper look, you’ll see why this sale and purchase made perfect sense for both companies.

Our similarities start from the very beginning. Most of you reading know our story. But to recap: Ivan Crossland, Sr. (our founder), started Crossland Construction out of the family garage in 1977.

Harvey Dean, Pitsco’s founder, started his company in 1971, creating hands-on learning kits in a garage. And, the unexpected connections continue from there. Both founders had an undeniable passion for education. Despite growing up in the Great Depression and dropping out of school at age 13 to work, Ivan Sr. never gave up on bettering himself or meeting his educational aspirations. With eight kids at home and working multiple jobs, he still earned his GED and later his Associates Degree. Ivan’s passion for education is a quality he encouraged in his sons and current company leaders of Crossland Construction. And, over 40 years later, education is still at the heart of our company. We’ve created many in-house educational programs over the years. Here are some you may or may not know about:

The Crossland Academy – a nationally accredited, in-house education program that offers skilled trades certification and training in concrete, heavy equipment operation, ironworking, leadership, and much more

50/50 Apprenticeship Program – our apprenticeship program gives high school students a jump start on a career in construction offering trade programs in carpentry, ironworking, and heavy equipment operation

Internship Program – our internship program gives students majoring in Construction Management or Engineering a hands-on experience and training to supplement their university curriculum

The Crossland Connection – a business to school partnership where we teach the importance of skilled trades to interested students

The purchase of Pitsco was a worthy endeavor for both companies. Together, Crossland and Pitsco will foster the next generation of builders by providing students with the facilities and materials they need to succeed.

There are lots of ideas and plans on the horizon. We can’t wait to see the impact on our industry’s future as we work together to create a well-educated workforce of problem-solvers and leaders.

The Value of World-Class Preconstruction

This article was originally written and published by Springfield Business Journal.

How does proper pre-planning for construction projects lead to better outcomes?

From labor shortages to supply chain issues, the construction industry is currently a bit unpredictable. That’s just an added reason why Crossland Construction Vice President Lance Garrett said having a relationship with design teams and clients is so crucial before construction begins. “As builders, we can be in constant communication, so no one is surprised about costs, design, or timeline,” said Garrett. “The preconstruction phase of a project is not only an added value to the owner, we’re setting up that relationship between the owner, the architect and the contractor.”

Garrett said establishing open dialog allows owners to decide how they wish to allocate their money regarding both look and function aspects.

“During the preconstruction phase, we vet out important details from the owner and let them apply their money where they need it so we can get them a great-looking facility that serves the function they require,” said Garrett. “We’re in the position to help those owners really define the scope for their facility.”

Figuring all this out in preconstruction gives the architect a clear vision before a design is finalized, saving time and money.

How does Crossland approach budgeting for their clients?

“As the design progresses, we’re there with the architects providing the owner budgets all along the way, from the initial renderings to final designs,” said Garrett, adding budgets are updated at each stage of the project according to market and price fluctuations. “We can also see the market trends and can better guide that budget to fit our client’s priorities.”

Garrett noted that this approach of constant communication is comforting to owners.

“The last thing you want to do is get to the end of the design phase and have a vision that exceeds someone’s budget. We want to provide them with as much information as possible so that they are making good, informed decisions about what they want,” he said.

Crossland clients appreciate that commitment to open communication and relationship building.

“Crossland has worked diligently to keep our projects on time and on budget, working cooperatively with the project team to resolve issues as they arise,” said Blayne Radford, Director of Project Management at Ozarks Technical Community College. “Crossland has demonstrated consistent and timely communication from groundbreaking to project completion. There are numerous challenges facing the construction industry today, from labor shortages to unprecedented supply chain disruption. Crossland’s experience has provided innovative solutions to these challenges which continues to deliver our projects successfully.”

Garrett said he believes all the effort in the preconstruction phase is just part of Crossland’s commitment to serving and helping create community. The construction firm was established in a tightly knit small town where community engagement and neighborly compassion are cornerstones. The company has always actively sought out opportunities to serve those around them.

“We’re the real deal,” added Garrett, who’s been in construction since 1998. “We are real builders, and this is our passion.”

He indicated nearly everyone at Crossland not only works in construction but also is often in the middle of a home renovation project of their own, whether it’s building a deck or remodeling a kitchen: “We’re passionate about construction, and we’re passionate about our jobs.”

Founded in 1977 and with nine locations across six states, Crossland Construction ranks No. 66 on the Engineering News-World’s Top 400 Contractors ENR list.

Bringing The Arts To Life

The new Mustang Performing Arts Center is truly a show stopper. With community in mind, this venue is the perfect spot for music, dance, and theater to thrive!

Mustang, OK – Draw back the curtains, the new Mustang Performing Arts Center is open. With industry-standard systems and state-of-the-art theatre amenities—students will receive the experience and knowledge needed to pursue the arts after high school. The new space represents much more than a school addition, but a performance center that will bring the community together.

A Space Fit for Broadway
The project boasts a massive 67,000 SF space. Inside you are greeted by 40-foot-high ceilings lined with LED lights for a breathtaking entrance. The architectural appeal is showcased throughout the venue. The spacious performance hall seats 1,500 people. The stage is set for an optimal orchestra experience with a motorized pit lift and orchestra shell. In addition to the performance space, the theater room was built with 12-inch thick concrete walls, doubling as a tornado shelter. This shelter provides students, staff, and the community a safe space during the unpredictable Oklahoma weather.

Planning and Communication Saves Millions
We faced typical construction obstacles throughout this project. Still, our team stayed positive and diligent while working through weather setbacks and material delays due to the pandemic. Excellent communication and problem-solving skills were imperative to keep the project on track.

We always strive to find cost savings, especially when working with school districts and taxpayers’ dollars. During the preconstruction phase, we were able to find nearly one million dollars in cost savings. That savings was then added back into the contingency fund for the district to purchase additional equipment for the building.

Keeping Safety a Top Priority
Ensuring the safety of students, staff, and crew is always of upmost importance to the Crossland team. We built and installed hundreds of feet of handrail around the construction site where crews were doing deep pit operations. The team also performed work at substantial heights throughout the project. Safety meetings, proper harness equipment, and making sure crews were tied off were essential. Crossland also hired a licensed scaffolding subcontractor to erect the scaffold in the auditorium area to guarantee worker safety.

“Crossland exhibited excellence in communication, responsibility, problem solving, oversight, and construction as a very capable and willing partner with Mustang Public Schools.” – Jason Pittenger, Assistant Superintendent:Operations, Mustang Public Schools

Crossland Heavy Takes Home FOUR ABC Awards

ABC Heart of America Chapter announced this year’s Excellence in Construction Award Winners. Crossland Heavy Contractors won for Louisburg Wastewater Treatment Plant and Nall Avenue Pump Station and Reservoir. Along with the EIC awards, Crossland Heavy took home two safety awards; The STEP Diamond Certification, the highest level you can achieve for Safety Training and Evaluation Process (STEP), and the General Contractor Chapter Safety Award! Congratulations to all of our crews on a job well done!

ABC’s Excellence in Construction awards program is the industry’s leading competition, developed to honor innovative and high-quality Merit Shop construction projects. The award honors all construction team members, including the contractor, owner, architect, and engineer. The winning projects, selected from entries submitted across Missouri and Kansas, are judged on complexity, attractiveness, unique challenges overcome, completion time, craft, innovation, safety, and cost.

Crossland Heavy Contractors Hires New Director of Engineering

LOWELL, ARKANSAS – Crossland Heavy Contractors is proud to announce the recent hire of William (Bill) Hagenburger, Director of Engineering.

Hagenburger brings over 30 years of industry experience to Crossland Heavy, working alongside us for the last 15 of those. We met Bill in 2006 when Crossland Heavy landed its most significant deal to date, a $26 million water treatment plant expansion for Beaver Water District. That project, fortunately, came with a committed partner in Beaver Water District and in their Chief Operating Officer, Bill Hagenburger.

“Any time you have a construction project and the opportunity to work with an invested client, that project tends to be more successful,” Dan Thompson, Crossland Heavy Arkansas VP, and Division Manager said.

Hagenburger will significantly grow what our company can offer to municipalities.

“Bill will bring the perspective of an owner which will help our team have a more comprehensive approach in pursuing, designing, and managing a collaborative delivery project,” Thompson said. “Up to this point, CHC has brought the constructability review to a design. Bill will bring the operation and maintenance know-how to that design as well, to show the client that we are concerned about their project from more than just the construction of it, but also to the long-term life cycle cost and ease of operation.”

Hagenburger’s arrival marks a turning point for Crossland Heavy as we continue to solidify our place in the market. We are committed to bringing in the best people to render the highest quality for our clients.

“I have been lucky to work with a lot of people from Crossland in my previous job,” Hagenburger said, “I look forward to working with this great group of people here and building great things.”

History – 100 Years in the Making

Greenwood Rising Black Wall Street History Center

Tulsa, OK – “Every project is important and meaningful to the communities we help build,” said Greg Smith, Crossland’s VP – Tulsa. “But now and then, you get the opportunity to help build history.” The Greenwood Rising project is an impactful addition to the Tulsa community. Crossland is honored to have been a part of bringing it to life.

A Look Back
The 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre represents a horrific event that destroyed over 35 blocks and killed over 300 people in Greenwood’s flourishing African American neighborhood, also known as Black Wall Street. The story was covered up for years and often omitted from school history books. The Greenwood Rising project’s mission aims at “repairing lingering historical racial trauma, work towards restoration, and charting a new, vibrant, inclusive course for the future.”

A Building that Invites Reflection
The one-story, 11,000 SF structural steel corner building is located at the gateway of the historic Greenwood District. A grand awning, extending over the sidewalk, embraces visitors, and a recessed skylight—punctuated by a stencil that casts a “1921” shadow on the ground—invites reflection.

The building’s patterned facade is dressed in glass and reinforced with concrete panels. The intricate details throughout make way for visitors to walk the paths of history. The decorative 3D brick profile is both unique and extravagant. A large radius wall levels up the space, giving way to a spacious lobby, embracing its visitors from the first step. This construction made way for historic exhibit galleries that retrace anti-Blackness’s political, economic, and social systems that sowed the seeds for the massacre.

Overcoming Obstacles
This project faced several challenges, including a tight timeline to meet the grand opening date on the 100th anniversary of the massacre. Our team was challenged with developing innovative ways to keep the project on track due to limited building materials and continuous delays.

Another hurdle was the location of the site. The building is in the heart of Tulsa’s bustling downtown area. With power lines, traffic, and pedestrians at play, additional safety measures were taken and at the forefront of every decision made.

Journey to Reconciliation
Greenwood Rising paves the way for truth in a city that buried the facts of the massacre for decades. As you exit the exhibit, a curved, LED brick wall invites visitors into its coil. Here you have the opportunity to make an actionable pledge toward racial reconciliation and a LED brick activates upon submission—an incredible end to this historical journey.

This construction brings hope to a community built on so much anguish. This project was one of our highest honors. We are so thankful for having the opportunity to be a part of this incredible moment in history.

Fast Facts:
Owner: 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre Centennial Commission
Architect: Selser Schaefer Architects
Museum Exhibit Installer: 1220 Exhibits
Museum Exhibit Designer: Local Projects
Delivery Method: Construction Management
Square Footage: 11,030 SF