Unique Project Serves as a Showcase of Baker Group Innovation
As one of the largest multi-specialty contractors in the region, each project presents Baker Group with a unique set of challenges and opportunities. Recently, Baker Group embraced a project that provided the opportunity to showcase the versatility of its sheet metal team.
The project—carried out under a tight timeline—involved crafting distinctive elements for Graham’s corporate office, dramatically transforming a break room into a versatile “core purpose” room.
The Genesis and Evolution of the Project
The project began simply: Graham approached Baker Group with a request to replicate a quarter-inch plate metal wall that Baker Group had installed in a project that Graham led at Wesley Acres in Des Moines. Bill May, Sheet Metal Project Manager at Baker Group, says the request was nothing out of the ordinary.
"They reached out to me and said, 'We've got a wall that's got some quarter-inch plate metal on it, and we think you guys did it’,” May says. “They wanted to do the same thing in this new space in their offices. Once we got into that, the project started to evolve."
Baker Group worked with the team at Graham to match the material, design, and specifications of the original wall. The team didn’t know it then, but getting the wall done marked only the initial phase of transforming the space at Graham.
The project expanded to include custom fabricated metal cabinets with a distinct aesthetic—something along the lines of a "reclaimed metal" look. May was tasked with conceptualizing this vision and providing budget estimates and timelines.
"I put together a budget for the kind of abstract vision they had along with a more straight-forward stainless-steel option," May says. “They accepted the estimate for the more abstract materials. Our challenge was not only to meet the design expectations but also to explore innovative methods to get it done. Our team experimented with several different finishes and application techniques to get it just right.” The selection process involved finding a color that resonated with the desired aesthetic. Once the color was chosen, the project entered a detailed design phase, including determining cabinet dimensions, drawer depths, and other relevant specifications.
Short Timelines and High Expectations
One of the most significant challenges of the project was the tight timeline. Graham awarded the project to Baker Group in October and aimed to complete the project, including the installation of the fabricated elements, by mid-December.
"Fortunately, moving quickly is nothing new to us," May says. “Part of our commitment to maintaining excellent client relationships is working as a team to rise to the occasion. Our team enjoys a good challenge like this.”
Despite a busy schedule, the sheet metal team ensured the project remained on track. And with an assist from some new technology, they were able to handle the entire job in-house.
Baker Group added a new laser cutter that could cut the quarter-inch plate metal involved in the fabrication of the wall, while also making cuts to tight specifications for the various pieces of the cabinet units.
“The laser cutter offers a number of benefits for a custom project like this,” May says. “First, it can handle thicker materials than our other cutter. That means we can process materials in-house that we used to have to send out. That saves a lot of time and resources.”
“But the cutter is also very precise,” he continues. “We are able to input our design file and our team can just lay the sheet on the machine and let it go."
From Vision to Reality
While technology played a critical role in preparing the sheet metal, it was old fashioned innovation from the team that brought it to life.
“This offered our team in the shop an opportunity to dig into something that showcases our capabilities beyond ductwork,” May says. “A lot of people think all we do is duct work, but we have the capability to do so much more. This project really highlighted the diverse skill set we offer.”
Baker Group delivered the final materials in early December, on time and to rave reviews from Graham.
“It was exactly what they had envisioned, and it fit in the space perfectly,” May says. “It felt good to deliver for Graham and to know that our work is going to be seen by their clients. It is such a unique project that we are sure they will get a lot of questions about it, and that is good for us.”