miller architects & Builders
HomStay Suites Williston.
HomStay lobby.
Miller has seen construction booms before, but nothing like the frenzied building in the Williston Basin, a result of oil drilling in the Bakken. The company has taken advantage of the demand and proven resourceful, erecting hotels, apartment complexes, offices, and other commercial projects. Weatherford office addition.
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company trucks. The shear volume of moving men and materials makes driving dangerous, a safety consideration for Miller and its workforce. There’s kind of a “Wild West” attitude in the Bakken, notes Seifert, who has driven in North Dakota many times to check jobsites and confer with superintendents. Miller superintendents monitor everything about each job from start to finish, including coordinating subcontractors’ schedules, clarifying specifications and procedures, and monitoring time and deadlines. They operate in rotation, usually two superintendents per jobsite. This type of arrangement is unique to Miller’s North Dakota jobs. Miller Architects & Builders has also had manpower challenges within, and has added employees this year to meet the increased demand of work in the Bakken. Scarcity of Materials Miller’s subcontractors transport materials from Minnesota out of necessity. Often, building supplies are not available in the high-demand area, and if they are, they sell at inflated prices. The incredible growth of the oilpatch has driven up costs for items associated with construction projects. Miller orders supplies early, in quantity, then transports them from Minnesota and stockpiles the materials on-site. The company also prefabricates whenever possible and hauls in “panelized” wooden framing. Infrastructure Issues Dealing with a lack of infrastructure is not normally unique for Miller. However, in the Williston Basin, the company faces more infrastructure issues than elsewhere. So, Miller cooperates with city governments to connect new buildings with existing water, sewer, gas, electric, and roads. This may mean the private company and its subcontractors excavate and place lines over substantial distances before the connection is made. The question of who – city or private entity – will produce the services first is always there, notes Seifert. However, discussions and decisions usually happen quickly on the Bakken because there’s a sharper realization of the urgent need for the project to move ahead. All in all, Miller Architects & Builders is taking advantage of the economic boom in the oilfields. The company has a stake in the land of the Williston Basin. And even though the manpower, materials, and infrastructure issues will continue to demand additional planning, Miller’s troubleshooting, flexibility, and ingenuity are certain to meet the challenges of the Bakken. w