The company that headed up the Education Corridor Project for NIC, LCSC and UI has been recognized as one of 2011’s best civil engineering firms to work for according to a nationwide employee-based survey.
JUB Engineers Inc. (Johnson, Underkoffler & Briggs) was rated second in the largest engineering firm category, consisting of 300+ employees, and rated 12th overall for any size firm.
“It feels good. It’s what we have been working for, to bring about expertise and excellence,” saidVice President of the board and Project Manager Dale R. Baune. “We’re focused on clients and exceeding the expectation of employee satisfaction.”
The survey, conducted by CE News, asked employees to rate workplace practices, satisfaction and other elements related to the firm’s culture, including categories like client focus, family atmosphere, collaborative approach and focus on integrity and fun.
“We work together, play together and succeed together,” said JUB president Lee E. Cammack. “Our employees take pride and care in their work; that results in great teamwork and has sustained us even in a challenging, economic climate.”
“The Education Corridor is going to be the (most talked about) project,” Baune said. “The urban infrastructure is not just a typical road project. There are 10,000 more critical things that come together, like state-of-the-art lighting for energy use.” He said they are even utilizing school colors in coordination with the project.
“It’s all linked together,” he said, explaining that all of the key local city projects, including the water and sewer department, play a huge part in its success. According to a news release, JUB’s broad range of experience includes municipal, transport, waste/wastewater, airports and structural engineering.
“There are two key building blocks in this market – clients and employees,” he said. “We’re more volatile and we have to be more flexible and easy to adapt.”
Baune revealed the process of how JUB got the initial contract for the Education Corridor. First, they submitted a proposal outlining the team and experience, he said, then held open-house meetings for the public. Last, they had a city committee make the final decision.
He explained that the initial task was prior studies looking into what would work and meet the needs of the college, the community and the residents. He said JUB wanted to bring it all together and combine the strengths. There was a lot of public agreement about what needed to happen, he said, stating that multiple ideas made the committee look further into the situation.
He listed eight guiding principles for the growth and development of the Education Corridor, in order to provide stakeholders a platform against which all decisions should be evaluated. The eight principles were: partnerships and collaboration, connectivity, heritage/culture/public art, neighborhood protection, density/parking/housing, sustainability and integration of Wastewater Treatment Plants, public access to waterfront and view of corridors and civic spaces.
Incorporated in Nampa, Idaho in 1954, and home to Coeur d’Alene since 1974, JUB has approximately 325 employees in 14 offices with a presence in Idaho, Washington, Oregon, Colorado and Utah.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Education Corridor will be held tomorrow at 3 p.m. at Hubbard Avenue near Academic Way.
