LED retrofit paves the path to reopening Located on the beautiful shoreline of Richmond Beach, WA, the Alon Asphalt plant has been dormant for the past four years. Owned by Delek US Holdings, Inc., the plant is now set to reopen, with a projected production restart by summer 2026. This revival effort involves significant updates to bring the facility back to operational standards, including a comprehensive lighting retrofit to upgrade from fluorescent to LED fixtures.
Delek US began by prioritizing lighting enhancements, inviting a select group
Replaced 170 fluorescent light fixtures with LEDs throughout the plant
344 Electrical Hours
of contractors to bid on the project. MacDonald-Miller, familiar with the plant's infrastructure from previous projects, was one of the few invited to submit a proposal for replacing 170 fluorescent fixtures with LEDs.
The proposal preparation benefited greatly from Jose Martinez, MacMiller’s Lighting Installation Specialist, whose extensive knowledge of the plant made him a valuable asset. Jose took the time to visit the site, communicate with the Alon team, and build a detailed parts list, ultimately securing the contract for MacMiller.
His efforts – and his longstanding relationship with Alon – were pivotal in winning this bid.
A key factor in the project’s success was a $54,620 rebate obtained through PLATT Electrical and Seattle City Lighting, reducing the cost of the 170 LED fixtures from $67,685 to just $13,065. MacMiller passed these savings on to Alon, helping maintain a budget-friendly contract.
Continued on page 7 »
And the beat goes on…
The time has come for me to write my last CEO message for Perspective. I want to thank you all for giving me the opportunity to be part of such a great organization for the last 35 years. This journey of helping MacDonald-Miller grow, mature, and succeed will be what I, and many of us MacMillians, will take away as our “life’s work.” The number of families and careers that have thrived under the secure blanket of MacMiller is something I am truly proud of. We built this company to be a place where people want to come to work, and to do that, we need to be the company that customers also rely on and trust. Sounds easy, but few companies become a place where customers and employees alike stay for many years or even decades!
MacMiller is now entering a new, promising era where our reputation is second to none and our ability to solve the most complex building system issues is unmatched. We need to stay intimate with our customers and our employees, even as we grow every year. The breadth of organizations, families, companies, buildings, contractors, and suppliers we touch is amazing. Every time I hear someone say the words “execute with distinction” I get inspired!
As I move on to Executive Chair of the Board of Directors, our deep and experienced leadership team at MacMiller is one of the reasons I am so confident in our company’s future. They are all here because they believe in what MacMiller is about – keeping our promises and being the best in the business. They are stewards of our culture, across all our business units and geographies, as well as skilled professionals in our industry, focused on our customers’ needs and the future of our business. I am honored to have been in the trenches with such great people all these years and proud of the company we have all built together. A successful business, a good reputation and skill at your craft does not happen by accident.
And the beat goes on… the last 60 days we have been in the midst of our annual strategic planning for 2025 and beyond. Next year we look to grow as a company overall another 11%, a good healthy growth that is created by our customers asking for more MacMiller! This growth is fueled by a nice construction backlog, like the Swedish Hospital expansion, Performance Contracting growth and continued strong demand for support of existing buildings, both in Special Projects and Service. Our planning goes beyond just the numbers, we are curious and intentional about innovation toward what we can do better for our clients and our industry. Following other companies’ ideas or industry trends can feel “safe” – but close followers are never leaders. We are leaders –and that is what makes you, and MacMiller, one of a kind!
I look forward to seeing the amazing things you will accomplish in the years to come.
Keep on Rockin’!
Gus Simonds CEO
A proud partnership for growth
:+: BY MICHAEL WEBER, SENIOR PROJECT MANAGER
Snoqualmie Casino Expansion, Snoqualmie, WA
MacDonald-Miller and our general contractor partner, Skanska, are thrilled to return to the Snoqualmie Casino – originally completed in 2008 – to more than triple its space. This expansion includes a 210-room hotel, a 2,000-person entertainment and convention center, a destination spa, expanded gaming floors, two signature restaurants, a valet parking garage, and all the amenities of a Las Vegas-style casino resort. This project reflects a significant investment by the Snoqualmie Tribe to enhance its economic and cultural influence in the Snoqualmie Valley.
MacMiller collaborated closely with design partners to navigate challenges, including coordination with out-of-state engineers working under different building codes. We focused on maintaining high-quality finishes while controlling costs and providing value-engineering opportunities.
Our crews installed over 26 miles of plumbing and mechanical piping and over 225 tons of sheet metal. Additionally, our Controls team integrated new systems with the Casino’s existing Honeywell controls, ensuring seamless operations.
At peak, our team comprised over 120 skilled tradespeople, including sheet metal, plumbing, pipe fitting, low-voltage, and insulation experts, alongside subcontractors VP Electric and Hudson Bay Insulation. The complex mechanical systems include 21 air handling units, 3 chillers, 3 boilers, 9 pumps, 324 fan coil
“MacDonald-Miller has been a long standing business partner with Snoqualmie Casino. The team at Snoqualmie Casino holds this partnership in high regard. The Snoqualmie Team relies on the honest and direct approach MacMiller takes with any and all projects they work on with us. Proposals provided by MacMiller are thorough and very detailed, providing peace of mind knowing there will be limited issues, if any. The MacMiller staff that works with the Snoqualmie Team are highly trained dedicated professionals that work hand in hand with the Snoqualmie Team ensuring our needs are met. We sincerely thank you for your partnership.
Mary Lou Patterson Interim Chief Executive Officer, Snoqualmie Casino
units, 110 VAV units, and 40 fans. Plumbing installations include 8 water heaters, 347 water closets, 349 lavatories, and over 500 kitchen equipment connections. Our fabrication shops contributed 26,000 hours crafting custom ductwork, pipe racks, and equipment skids.
This project posed unique challenges, including hillside construction, extreme weather, integration with an existing 24/7 facility, and a compressed timeline. Despite these, our team worked tirelessly to ensure the project’s success.
Thanks to the strength of our preconstruction, construction, and service teams, we are excited to continue our partnership with Snoqualmie Casino, including an upcoming replacement of their existing mechanical systems as part of a life-cycle upgrade to expand their mechanical capacity.
A PROUD PARTNERSHIP
A BIG SHOUT OUT to our project teams: PM » Michael Weber, Lisa Hardcastle, Zach Bankuti, Austin Carver; CONTROLS » Colby Phillipps, Travis Folta; SHEET METAL » Jon Hardecopf, Alex Frohreich; PLUMBING » Jake Jarvis, Zach Vincent, Sam Pemble; SAFETY » Tyree Rutter; FITTING » Justin Spragg, Rob Morehouse; DETAILING » Eric Dickey, Pete Jones
FACES OF SUCCESS
Daniel Vu, Senior Engineer » Years with MacMiller: 6
“The No Meat Factory project has a unique requirement for their cooking oil system design situations that test your abilities to design a system with with extremely high operating temperatures. I enjoy working for MacMiller because of the culture, variety of projects, and talented team members.”
Committed to efficiency and innovation :+:
BY SETH LARIVIERE, INDUSTRIAL ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE
No Meat Factory, Stanwood, WA
The No Meat Factory’s expansion into the U.S. with its new plant in Stanwood, WA marks a significant step for the plant-based meat alternative industry. Their facility, set to be the world’s largest of its kind, is a major undertaking with several technical challenges, particularly the setup of a thermal oil heating system, which is less common in U.S. industrial facilities.
This system, designed to operate at high temperatures (up to 650°F), requires precise engineering to accommodate the linear expansion of pipes. With every 100°F increase, the piping expands by 1 inch per 100 feet, meaning some sections grow by as much as 4.5 inches. To handle this, MacDonald-Miller’s team, led by engineer Daniel Vu, meticulously planned pipe guides, anchors, and compensators to ensure safe and efficient operation.
The choice of hot oil heating is key to the plant’s efficiency, providing higher temperatures than traditional steam-based systems and thus reducing production times. These systems are also less prone to corrosion, making them ideal for long-term use in food processing and other industries requiring extreme heat.
Beyond the thermal oil system, MacMiller also handled various other installations, such as domestic water systems, compressed air systems, and pollution control measures, demonstrating the complexity and scale of the project. Special shout outs go to the
excellent Foreman on site and those behind the scenes including: Reuben Dickson, Josh Hughes, Ron Jacobs, Robert Wagner, Ryan Martin, Jason Stetz, and Tim Felton. With over 7,000 hours logged across different fields of work, the project exemplifies intricate coordination between engineering, fieldwork, and specialized labor.
An update is expected in 2025 as the facility enters its next phase of construction, highlighting the ongoing effort to create an efficient and sustainable production environment for plantbased alternatives.
No Meat Factory was fortunate to team with MacDonald-Miller! As a start-up company, construction plans change frequently and partnering with the MacDonald-Miller team has turned our challenges into opportunities. Seth LaRiviere goes above and beyond to meet deadlines with quality work and professionalism… NMF looks forward to a long business relationship.
Larry Post, Plant Manager, No Meat Factory
Building the future of public safety
:+: BY RICHARD CONDREY, PROJECT EXECUTIVE
Grant County Jail, Ephrata, WA
We are proud to announce the progress of the new Grant County Jail, an essential addition to the community’s law enforcement infrastructure. Spanning 158,000 SF, the facility will feature 512 secure beds across specialized jail pods, medical and infirmary services, administrative spaces, and more. The facility is designed to support the sheriff’s office, evidence storage, laundry, kitchen, and booking areas, ensuring comprehensive operational efficiency.
This project has involved innovative problem-solving and cost-saving strategies from the very start. A key challenge was planning for both the jail and sheriff's office within a tight budget. The mechanical systems for these two spaces were initially designed separately, anticipating that the sheriff’s office might not be approved if costs exceeded the budget. However, thanks to the approval of the Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) by the Board of Commissioners, we were able to include the sheriff’s office in the design.
Our team, particularly MacDonald-Miller’s estimating division, executed a significant mechanical redesign to combine systems and reduce costs without sacrificing quality. Prefabrication techniques – such as creating off-site jail pods and multi-trade racks – have been instrumental in maintaining this project’s schedule and budget. Prefabrication helps us maintain a high level of accuracy in BIM coordination, minimizing rework and disruptions.
Radley Greer, Apprentice » Years with MacMiller: 3
“I’ve learned that even on a task such as pour watch, staying with the concrete workers, making sure that everything is done correctly makes all the difference down the road. Even though it feels like a small task, it is important.”
Once the jail is complete, the project will transition into the remodel of the existing Law & Justice Building, where 36,000 SF will be demolished, and 54,000 SF will be remodeled to provide additional support spaces and expand courthouse facilities.
83,000 HOURS
FIELD LABOR, SHOP LABOR, DETAILING, PROJECT MANAGEMENT, ETC.
188,000
POUNDS OF DUCTWORK
which is comparable to the weight of 45 police cars
58,600 LINEAL FEET OF PIPE ≈ 11 MILES!
PREFAB PODS FOR PRECISION
Each jail cell is being prefabricated off-site and delivered in modular units for on-site stacking and assembly. Our multi-trade racks (MTRs), which are also prefabricated, will be installed right after the pods, ensuring that final piping, duct, and other essential connections are efficiently made. The accuracy of this approach is essential to avoid costly rework.
FACES OF SUCCESS
PROJECT HIGHLIGHT
WILLAMETTE UNIVERSITY | SALEM, OR
We’re partnering with Willamette University to decentralize their central steam boiler system, replacing it with localized boilers for each building. This upgrade will improve heating efficiency and control across 12 buildings, allowing customized heating capabilities for each space.
Our team faces a complex schedule on this busy campus, as we systematically decommission the large central steam boiler and remove the extensive underground piping connecting all the buildings. MacDonald-Miller serves as the prime contractor, overseeing not only our core work in electrical, controls, fitting, sheet metal, and plumbing but also additional scopes including insulation, French roofing, and concrete.
A special shout out to our engineers, detailers, and field crews – whose meticulous preplanning has enabled us to execute effectively on such an active campus!
FACES OF SUCCESS
Pictured above: Tom on left, Micah on right
Tom Ulrich, Construction Special Projects
Sheet Metal Foreman
» With MacMiller: 8 months
“I like that MacMiller gives me the tools, information, and manpower to succeed as a foreman.”
Micah Jenkins, Construction Special Projects Sheet Metal Foreman
» With MacMiller: 5 months
“I like the team atmosphere MacMiller promotes from the top down, this makes my work life productive and enjoyable.”
CONTROLS HIGHLIGHT | PERFORMANCE CONTRACTING
CHIEF LESCHI SCHOOLS | PUYALLUP, WA
:+: BY GEORGE PFEIFFER, VP, BUILDING CONTROLS
Enhancing comfort and efficiency
Our team recently upgraded Chief Leschi Schools’ HVAC system with advanced Honeywell WEBS controls, bringing new levels of comfort, energy efficiency, and reliability to the campus. The Honeywell controls system provides precise temperature and humidity regulation, creating a consistently comfortable environment ideal for students and staff.
Key Benefits:
Improved Comfort: The new Honeywell system allows for more consistent climate control across classrooms, which helps students and teachers stay comfortable throughout the school day, promoting focus and well-being.
Energy Efficiency: By optimizing energy use based on real-time data, the Honeywell controls reduce unnecessary energy consumption. This not only lowers operational costs but also aligns with Chief Leschi’s commitment to sustainability.
Reduced Maintenance Needs: Honeywell’s advanced system reduces strain on equipment and alerts the facility team to any potential issues early, reducing downtime and lowering long-term maintenance costs.
SHOUT OUT TO THE CREW!
Highlight the last 2 paras somehow.
A big shout out to our Performance Contracting Team whose hard work and dedication in the planning stages made these upgrades possible. Their expertise ensured that Chief Leschi School now has an HVAC system that not only supports a healthy and comfortable learning environment but also aligns with best practices in energy conservation and operational efficiency. Nicole Spangler and Dan Wittier did a stellar job managing the execution phase and all the contractor activities. There were over 15 subs on the project! Additionally, thanks to the Sheet Metal, Fitting, and Refrigeration Teams, led by Russell Roulette, Paul Tannehill, Andrew Cutright, and John Sammis. It’s great to work with you all!
Finally, this project would not have been successfully implemented without the close collaboration of our Building Controls Partners. Josh Greminger and Andrew Eichenberger delivered an exceptional controls design, while Colby Phillipps excelled in planning and coordination. The field team’s expertise and dedication, led by Pat Hein and supported by Andy Simmons and Gabe Sarron were instrumental in bringing everything together seamlessly.
HIGHLIGHTS
“A
bright future for Alon Asphalt”, continued from page 1
The MacMiller team began removing the existing fixtures and installing LEDs in early August 2024, completing the work by October 2024. With support from Jim Fullwiler, SSP Electrical Superintendent, and additional MacMiller SSP electrical team members, the project was executed smoothly and professionally. The Alon team was reminded of MacMiller’s dedication, and they have expressed interest in working with us on future projects. In summary, the project scope included mapping the site, fixture selection, and procurement, followed by a complete lighting upgrade. Many fixtures were located on high exterior poles and interior shop areas, requiring the use of manlifts for access. During installation, the MacMiller team identified issues with several existing circuits, performing necessary repairs and awaiting customer approval for further updates.
FACES OF SUCCESS
Jose Martinez, Lighting Specialist
» Years with MacMiller: 24
A long time ago, I learned that you need three things to have a successful project:
1) The Right Information: the audit and proposal for the project was done with all the right information.
2) The Right Product: the replacement lights were chosen for the specific location and application.
3) The Right Crew: from the salesperson to the project manager and the crew installing the lights, everybody worked together as a unit.
Once again, all three points were met on this project, making it a successful project for our company and the customer.
This project was personally really satisfying for me, I have worked in this location for many years, and it was way overdue on the lighting upgrades.
SHOUT OUTS!
TO KURT BOUTIN
» PLUMBING SERVICES , WESTERN WA «
“The Embassy Suites in Pioneer Square experienced a major sewer backup last night, and Kurt, our on-call tech, did an amazing job! Not only did he clear the line, but his customer service was top-notch. Another win for MacMiller! Thank you.”
Glen Hoffman, Director of Property Operations, Embassy Suites Seattle Downtown-Pioneer Square
TO AARON PETERSON, MIKE P. JOHNSON AND PHIL ROACH
» STARTUP AND REFRIGERATION , WESTERN WA «
“We’ve just completed the last of the heat pump installs at Silverdale, and I want to thank the MacMiller field team – Aaron, Mike, and Phil. They did an excellent job, knew their scope of work, and were extremely professional in the hospital environment. It was a pleasure working with them. Thank you!”
Jay Weimern, DPR General Foreman
» BOILER SERVICES, OREGON «
“Thank you, Phillip Huntington, for your outstanding work on the rooftop units and boilers at Providence Portland Medical Center – Child Center. Your efforts consistently exceed expectations, and we truly appreciate your hard work and dedication. ”
John Falcon, Facilities Manager Providence Portland Medical Center
