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Red Iron Magazine

Crossland Construction Red Iron Award Winner

Hard working, Passionate, Dedication – words to describe Brian Denney.

He exemplifies what it means to be a Crossland Construction employee.

So what do most people think of when they hear Brian Denney’s name? 

”His laugh,” DJ McClenny said. 

“His damn laugh,” Aaron Drain said. 

“You can’t mention Brian without thinking about his laugh,” Grant Goodwin said. 

Ok, so what’s up with this laugh?

“It’s this deep down belly laugh,” Goodwin, Project Manager, said. “It’s not like a deep voice kind of thing, but this cackling laugh.”

Drain, Superintendent, also described it as a “cackle” that “no one can imitate.”

“If you’ve ever heard it,” he said, “there’s definitely no denying, once you hear it, exactly who it is. We were at a restaurant one time, and he busted out laughing. This guy comes up to him and says, ‘Is your wife a nurse?’ He knew Brian from his laugh.”

His laughter and personable spirit, coupled with his boundless devotion to the Crossland team, earned Denney this year’s Red Iron Award. Each year, this honor is given to a single employee who represents the values and work ethic of our company’s founder, Ivan “Red Iron” Crossland Sr.

“The ultimate compliment here that someone could be given is that grandpa would have been proud of you,” said Mattie Crossland, Ivan Sr.’s granddaughter and Director of Crossland Realty. “Winning this award means that not only would grandpa have been proud of you, but he would have told you himself that you’re doing a hell of a job.”

“I was very excited and proud when I won the Red Iron award, said Denney. I know the quality of people who have received this award, so for me, it was truly a blessing and a milestone in my career. I can’t thank Crossland enough for what they have done for me to get me where I am today.”

McClenny, Vice President for Wichita, said Denney is deserving of the award for many reasons.

“First, it’s his ability to see the big picture,” he said. “He can step back out of a situation, analyze it, get into the details, and figure it out. At the same time, he has amazing attention to detail. He’s also a relationship builder, and that just helps the whole job go smoothly.” 

Drain said Denney is “super sharp in the field.”

“He wants to be the best at whatever he’s doing,” Drain said. “He wants to learn everything he can.”

Aaron Drain

Superintendent

To Drain’s surprise, that also includes tennis.

“The first time I met Brian, I thought that this guy is an athlete,” he said. “Come to find out, he may be the Roger Federer of Independence, Kansas. If it wasn’t for working at Crossland, he might be at Wimbledon.”

Of course, hearing that would probably make Denney laugh … err, cackle. Which, of course, would make everyone else laugh, too.

“It’s contagious,” Goodwin said.

When Brian isn’t hard at work, he enjoys spending time with his wife, Jennifer, and their three kids, Aiden (16), Allie (13), and Abbott (9). When they’re not busy with their kid’s sporting events, they like being outdoors hunting and fishing.

It’s All About The Concrete

“It’s all about the concrete. When you get to the jobsite, you hop out of the truck as soon as you hear that concrete truck coming. Concrete won’t wait for you.”

Communication is critical on any construction project. A crew has to talk and be on the same page. For the concrete crew of Octabio Arellano, Alberto Arellano, and Alfonso Sandoval, that part just comes naturally.

“We’re all from the same area,” Alberto said. “We all know each other, and we’ve got that chemistry. Sometimes you don’t even have to say anything, and you can just give each other a look, and you know what’s being said. We’re locked in.”

His brother, Octabio, said teamwork is driven mainly by the shared goal of doing their best while completing projects.

“We all give 100 percent no matter the circumstances,” he said. “Seeing the project completed is super rewarding.”

Ben Hill, Crossland’s Concrete Division Manager, praised the crew for their teamwork and dedication.

“Octabio and his crew are hard working, dedicated, and always willing to take on difficult projects. They do quality work and a fantastic job. I’m lucky to have them.”

Ben Hill

Concrete Division Manager

Alberto said the crew doesn’t have a “typical day” on a jobsite. It all depends on the project and, of course, the main ingredient.

“It’s all about the concrete,” he said. “When you get to the jobsite, you hop out of your truck as soon as you hear that (concrete) truck coming. Concrete won’t wait on you.” 

Octabio said he enjoys the variety of jobs that Crossland provides.

“It could be a quick and easy day, or it could be a long and exhausting day,” he said. “It just depends on the concrete.”

The brothers also praised Crossland for the care shown to employees.

“It’s a great company,” Octabio said. “They take care of you, just like family.”

Alberto said he’s motivated by how Crossland rewards employees for their hard work.

“If you try hard, try to improve, the raise is there,” he said. “There are lots of opportunities here. It’s a good job, man, and it’s a good living.”

Top 10 Trends In Education Design

We asked industry-leading K-12 architects about current education facility design trends – here are the Top 10 takeaways.

1.  Flexibility in all aspects from classrooms and furniture to technology

2.  Focus on student-centered collaboration spaces

3.  More teachers using outdoor learning destinations

4. Climate, lighting, and connection to outdoors

5.  Technology evolving to meet STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math) learning

6.  Supporting the use of technology from individual devices to immersive technology for presentation and display

7.  Adding virtual learning spaces for individuals and groups

8.  Making schools more secure without feeling intrusive

9.  Utilizing ALL of the facility for learning, including the corridors

10.  Micro learning environments that positively impact student behavior

THANK YOU, to the following people and firms
for their contributions to this article:

KKT Architects
Sarah Gould, AIA, A4LE
President & CEO

CGA Architects
Chad Greer, AIA, CPD
Principal Architect

DLR Group
Kevin Greischar, AIA
Principal

Hight Jackson Associates
Michelle McClaflin, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP BD+C
Vice President

Huckabee Inc.
Ken Kessler
Principal

Stantec
Brett Holzle, AIA
Principal
John Shriver, AIA, NCARB
Principal I North Texas Market Leader

WRA
Keith Anderson, AIA, NCARB
Principal

Helping Build The Future

There is no better time than now to invest in school infrastructure.

Schools are the building blocks of our communities. They represent the hopes, dreams, and our future. School construction is some of the most rewarding work we do.

We can all agree that students and teachers need a safe, secure place to teach, learn, and grow. As technology evolves, so should our schools and classrooms.

Data shows that school conditions directly impact student attendance and performance. So investing in school infrastructure has benefits that reshape our society and our future.

K-12 SCHOOLS
The best school buildings are more than just physical structures—they provide safe and creative environments where our kids can thrive. When it comes to providing a safe and healthy environment for children, school leadership must consider many factors. Adequate spaces, natural light, well-functioning heating/cooling systems, clean water, and modern technology are just the start. These days public schools are also used as emergency shelters and resource facilities.

PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE
One vital takeaway from the Covid-19 pandemic is the importance of building ventilation. Proper HVAC has been a motivating factor for many school leaders to take action and invest in improving their school’s ventilation systems.

Here are a few other aspects that make up a quality school infrastructure:
A clean and well-organized environment that is conducive to learning
A structurally safe environment for students
State-of-the-art equipment and facilities

The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) estimates that only 65% of school districts have assessed their facilities within the past ten years. Planning is essential for long-term facility operations and maintenance.

HOW CAN WE HELP?
Crossland has experience building K-12 facilities and higher education on all scales and sizes. We have worked with over 125 school districts and have constructed over 400 school projects over the last 40 years. Our expert estimators and preconstruction teams help schools perform life-cycle cost analysis to help them plan better and allocate resources.

If you would like us to help provide construction cost for any upcoming school projects, contact us at k12construction@crossland.com. Read our latest edition of the Red Iron Magazine below.

Crossland Purchases Pitsco Education

Ivan Crossland, Sr.
Harvey Dean

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.

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

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