08.27.2023

Since announcing our inaugural Innovation Accelerator program two months ago, we’ve received some truly inspiring ideas for making our business more productive, efficient and impactful.

Over the years, many of our best new ideas for business improvements have not been “top-down” leadership initiatives. They’ve been bottom-up. This includes better ways of doing things like Bluebeam, VDC, the original PM system and many more. They all started with innovative Lewis employees coming up with a better way. Innovation is in our DNA and is vital to our continued success.

For those who’d like to participate, there’s still time. Click here to submit the next groundbreaking idea! The application window will be open until this Friday, September 1^st.

Innovations can be new to the industry or just to Lewis and they do not need to focus on technology or building. In keeping with our core values, we're looking for ideas that enhance value and profitability, keeping us at the forefront of our industry.

Applicants will be able to present ideas in Seattle and Portland in mid-October. To sweeten the deal, finalists will receive a $1,000 prize, semi-finalists will receive a $500 prize and all participants will get custom swag.



We can’t wait to see what you’ve come up with.

Jay Sorensen

President, Washington Division

Washington Q3 Meeting this Week

Mark your calendars, Seattle office—the Q3 Quarterly Meeting is this Tuesday, August 29th, beginning at 2:00 p.m. at Union Stables. We'll cover topics ranging from an Enterprise Business Update to the Innovation Accelerator contest. Come ready to learn, contribute and indulge in good eats and raffle prizes!

Oregon Q3 Quarterly Recap

Last week, Oregon got together for the Q3 Quarterly Meeting. Big thanks to David Torres and the Providence St. Vincent ED team for hosting the event. The meeting introduced our new hires, covered our progress toward our 2023 business goals, announced and explained the upcoming Employee Fulfillment Survey and much more. Congrats to the Green team on winning the Lewis Family Feud (the petitions and accusations have been evaluated and dismissed due to lack of evidence)!

Brandon Steinberg, Intern to PE

Welcome Brandon Steinberg as Seattle's newest Project Engineer! As a former intern on the Convention Center Addition project, he brings a sense of collaboration and resilience to his team and is eager to learn everything that he can across all market sectors. Brandon will be supporting the team at the FHCC E3D5 project.

Seagen B15 Certificate of Occupancy

Lewis has finished the Seagen B15 project, converting 18,000 square feet of existing space into a warehouse and freezer farm. Scope included building a loading dock, a warehouse space with racking system, forty deep freezers reaching -80°, four blast freezers, and replacing the existing roof, including five 15T-20T rooftop AHUs. Our team also upgraded finishes for the common areas, such as the lobby, restrooms, etc. This project required significant perseverance as the team navigated a string of obstacles. A very hearty congratulations to the whole team:

• Dustin Zyph

• Ben Bosancu

• Chris Kerr

• Sohail Abrahams

• Coriann Presser

• Kris Dehmollayi

• Donna Goforth

• Nathan Elliot

• Rick Zyph

• Colton Cox

• Wayne Hachtel

• Marla Jelinek

• Enga Frame 

NTT HI1 Project Completion

From the jump, the NTT HI1 team surpassed expectations during the takeover of the 36MW Data Center project in Hillsboro, Oregon. The team met its scheduled TCO, IST and RFS dates and was the first contractor to meet the IST and RFS dates across all of NTT's North American projects! This project stands out because the trade partners' dedication to safety resulted in no recordable injuries during the 250,000 hours worked.

Since the completion of HI1, the team has remobilized on the south side of the property to construct a new ground-up 66MW data center, HI2.

Portland Youth Builders Book Drive

Earlier this month, the Oregon offices wrapped up a book drive for our foundation recipient, Portland Youth Builders (PYB). Fifty-one books were gathered and handed off to PYB! Thanks to everyone who participated in this effort. These books, ranging from construction textbooks to young adult fiction, will be used to help stock PYB’s new library just ahead of the new school year.