Russell served as the Construction Manager at Risk for the transformation of Black Hawk College’s Building 2 into a state-of-the-art Career Technologies hub, delivering 82,867 s.f. of renovation and new construction.
The project included a new 6,000 s.f. precast concrete addition housing a fully equipped welding lab featuring 20 advanced welding booths, a fabrication lab with industrial-grade equipment, a dedicated gas mixing room, grinding room with dust collection, classroom space, and a custom exhaust and ventilation system for safety and performance. The lab provides students with hands-on access to MIG/multi-process welders, plasma cutters, band saws, and more—preparing them for real-world industrial careers.
The renovated 69,000 s.f. interior includes eight multipurpose classrooms, a lecture hall, 19 faculty offices, and specialized labs for mechatronics, cybersecurity, engineering technology, industrial maintenance, and e-sports. Additional upgrades included ADA-compliant restrooms, a lactation room, a new elevator, and a high-ceiling entrance lobby with cantilevered architectural features.
To maintain the schedule and proactively address construction challenges, Russell implemented a series of strategic measures. Four targeted bid releases accelerated procurement of precast, steel, and other long-lead materials, ensuring critical items were secured early. Full BIM coordination was utilized to maximize ceiling heights and streamline utility routing within the constraints of the existing waffle slab structure. Demolition and heavy construction activities were carefully scheduled around summer classes to minimize disruption to campus operations. Throughout the project, DroneDeploy and other VDC tools provided real-time quality control, documentation, and progress tracking, keeping the project efficient and transparent.
