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August 23, 2024

Nibbi Puts Client Focus Into Action

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At Nibbi, “Client Focus” isn’t just a phrase—it’s the driving force behind our every decision. Whether it’s a complex project or a unique client need, our highest priority is ensuring our clients achieve their goals with confidence and peace of mind.

Our clients’ feedback speaks volumes about our dedication. In a recent project, the client team expressed their unanimous feeling about “what a smooth, reassuring, and professional experience it was working with Nibbi.” In a large-scale community development, another client highlighted, “We have all been impressed by the quality, attention to detail and focus on all aspects of the construction, strategy, and creative thinking. Truly first-class across the board.”

We take immense pride in knowing that our commitment and creative solutions leave a lasting impression on clients. At 4200 Geary, an affordable senior housing development in San Francisco, Nibbi’s team faced a significant challenge when PG&E required that no water or sewer pipes be located above the electrical room. This potential setback could have led to the loss of one or two residential units. To address this, our team devised an innovative solution: constructing a concrete soffit on the underside of the Level 2 Slab to safely enclose the pipes without direct contact. This creative approach allowed TNDC to retain the crucial units above the electrical room, all while keeping the project on schedule and within budget.

At Nibbi, delivering projects on time and within budget is just one part of our work. We’re committed to building trust and lasting partnerships with our clients. Our goal is to leave clients feeling reassured and confident they have a reliable partner to support them throughout the construction process.

Want to see how our client focus comes to life? Watch our client video to hear directly from those we’ve partnered with. Their stories highlight the true essence of working with Nibbi: [Watch Video].

July 8, 2024

Harnessing AI for Excellence: Nibbi’s Client-Focused Approach with Firmus

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At Nibbi, our highest priority is helping our clients find solutions to achieve their goals. Our core value of client focus drives us to continuously strive for better service through collaboration, innovation, and efficiency. One such innovative solution is our integration of Firmus, an AI-powered tool, into our QA/QC and preconstruction process. Firmus has transformed how we conduct constructability reviews, ensuring our projects are executed precisely and efficiently and ultimately delivering superior results for our clients.

Client Focus in Action

Since 2022, Nibbi has utilized Firmus over fifteen projects during the Construction Documents (CD) stage. This widespread adoption demonstrates our commitment to leveraging AI technology to enhance service delivery and meet our clients’ needs.

Firmus significantly impacted the Hawthorn Housing Development for the Santa Clara County Housing Authority by helping us meet stringent preconstruction requirements and deadlines. It generated insightful comments on drawing health, improved team communication, and resulted in a more complete drawing set. Consequently, our estimates became more accurate, ensuring project timelines and budgets were met, ultimately benefiting our client.

Quality Assurance Project Manager Anita Hsieh emphasized the transformative impact of Firmus: “When AI first entered the construction space, many were uncertain about its implications and feared job security issues. I was excited about the potential time savings on mundane tasks. Seeing Firmus’ analysis firsthand, I realized it highlighted issues like missing pages and discrepancies that I wouldn’t have time to find myself. This tool provides crucial information I might otherwise miss.”

Enhanced Collaboration and Communication

Firmus has significantly improved collaboration with our project partners, a foundation of our client-focused approach. Hsieh noted, “We recently had a project where the architect was impressed we’re using an AI tool. We started scanning drawings in the mid-CDs, and overall, you can sense the drawing competency increases each time they submit. The architect appreciates having multiple tools at their disposal. It’s a team effort.”

This collaboration leads to cohesive and efficient project execution, benefiting our clients by fostering a cooperative environment where all stakeholders are aligned and working towards a common goal.

Firmus as a Best Practice

Firmus has become a standard part of Nibbi’s QA/QC and preconstruction process, particularly during the CD phase. The AI tool’s ability to assess drawing health allows our QA staff to focus on intricate building details, optimizing our overall review process. The reports generated by Firmus are sent to the project team, complementing our constructability reviews and ensuring a comprehensive analysis of the project documents.

By incorporating Firmus into our workflow, Nibbi demonstrates our commitment to leveraging advanced technologies to serve our clients better and our dedication to innovation, efficiency, and excellence in all our projects.

Looking Ahead

Our use of Firmus keeps us innovative while prioritizing our clients’ best interests. By embracing technology and fostering collaboration, we deliver exceptional results and exceed expectations.

Please review the full Firmus Case Study for detailed insights into how Nibbi is transforming QA/QC and preconstruction processes.

June 19, 2024

Pioneering the Future of Modular Construction: NibbiPrefab at the Offsite Construction Summit

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On June 5, 2024, NibbiPrefab had the privilege of sponsoring and participating in the Offsite Construction Summit in Berkeley, CA. This gathering of industry leaders and innovators focused on the latest advancements and future directions in modular and offsite construction. Our Senior Preconstruction Manager, Randall Thompson, shared insights on the advantages of project standardization in modular construction, emphasizing NibbiPrefab‘s dedication to innovation and quality in this evolving field.

During his presentation, Randall provided valuable perspectives on the benefits of adopting standardized design practices within modular construction. His talk, “Advancing Modular Construction for Multi-Family Housing: A Case for Standardization,” offered an in-depth look at how standardization can drive efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance the overall quality of modular projects.

Key Highlights from Randall’s Presentation

  • Understanding Standardization: Using predesigned modules and configurable options allows for significant customization while leveraging the benefits of mass production, leading to cost savings and improved project timelines in modular construction.
  • Debunking Misconceptions: Standardized design practices foster innovation and improve quality through continuous refinement, balancing customization with the efficiencies of standardized processes in prefabricated construction.
  • Case Studies and Trends: Successful applications of standardized designs in multi-family housing projects show how standardization can offer diverse and tailored solutions for different project needs in prefab construction.
  • The Path Forward: Embracing standardized design practices and fostering collaboration among industry partners can unlock the potential of modular building to meet growing housing demands efficiently and effectively.

The Offsite Construction Summit provided a valuable platform for NibbiPrefab to share our insights and vision for the future of modular construction. Randall’s presentation highlighted how standardization can transform the industry, offering a roadmap for achieving greater efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and quality in multi-family housing projects. We invite you to explore the presentation slides to gain insights into NibbiPrefab‘s innovative approaches.

We look forward to continuing the conversation and collaborating with industry partners to advance the future of construction. To learn more about NibbiPrefab or for more information and assistance with new projects, contact [email protected].

November 14, 2023

Sango Court Case Study

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Sango Court, an affordable housing development located in Milpitas, CA, embraces the future of construction with its innovative modular design. This transit-oriented development comprises two buildings with a shared courtyard and 102 modularly constructed units.

This new development addresses the pressing need for affordable housing and exemplifies the benefits of modular construction when seamless integration and techniques are executed effectively.


Read more about the challenges and successes we discovered during the modular and building process in our case study.

Case study courtesy of Autovol.

 

September 19, 2023

ICYMI: Modular Construction Summit: Formula for Success

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In the ever-evolving world of construction, a paradigm shift is underway, and it’s called modular construction. Industry leaders, including Nibbi’s Senior Preconstruction Manager, Randall Thompson, recently convened at The Registry’s “Modular Construction Summit: Formula for Success” webinar to share their insights into this innovative approach and explore the formula for success. Watch the entire webinar here or read on for a recap of what was discussed!

The Growing Industry and Continued Learning

One resounding theme echoed throughout the webinar was the rapid growth of the modular construction industry. As Caleb Roope, President & CEO of The Pacific Cos., succinctly said, “Modular is an amazing solution when applied correctly.” The enthusiasm for modular construction is palpable, but success lies in understanding how to harness its potential.

Developers, architects, and builders are still learning to perfect their modular methods. “What have we taken from our learning curves?” was a question posed to the panel, emphasizing that we are on a collective learning journey. It’s clear that there are different ways to approach modular construction, but continuing to learn and finding the right one is crucial for modular success.

Collaboration and Key Factors for Success

A recurring theme emphasized the importance of collaboration. To truly succeed in modular construction, it’s essential for everyone involved to share the same vision. Ioanna Magiati, Partner at AO Architects, pointed out, “Same vision, one team; collaboration equals modular success.” This synergy is the backbone of successful modular projects.

Rick Murdock, Co-Founder & CEO of Autovol, identified four key factors companies seek when considering modular construction: cost-efficiency, labor efficiency, quality, and time savings. These are the pillars upon which modular construction stands, offering significant advantages when executed correctly.

Overcoming Pushbacks and Best Practices

Randall stressed that to achieve optimum cost and schedule efficiency over traditional construction, one must begin with a “Modular Mindset;” this means diligent homework and thoughtful planning in the early stages of development and design. Caleb shared the common pushback of developers who become discouraged when faced with a lack of experience, stressing the need to assemble the right team, adopt the proper methods, and embrace this different way of building.

The summit offered valuable insights into best practices for modular construction:

    • Early Involvement: Get all stakeholders involved early in the process.
    • Know Your Manufacturers: Foster close relationships with manufacturers and subcontractors.
    • Teamwork: Building a cohesive team with transparent communication is crucial.
    • Transparency: Be transparent about expectations and abilities to foster trust and collaboration.

In conclusion, the “Modular Construction Summit: Formula for Success” was a testament to the exciting potential of modular construction. With collaboration, a modular mindset, and adherence to best practices, the future of building looks bright.

Are you interested in learning more?

Check out the resources shared during the webinar:

March 16, 2023

Partnering for Success at Sango Ct

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The award of the Sango Court project marks Nibbi’s first foray into modular construction since the 1970’s. As newcomers to modern modular construction, Nibbi approached the Sango Court project with extensive research on partnership, manufacturing, and process. Today the team’s construction process is sure-footed and honed to bring the project to completion by fall 2023.

Once constructed, Sango Court will be a transit-oriented affordable rental development. Located in Milpitas, the transit-rich site is approximately half a mile away from Milpitas BART station, and close to parks, shopping, schools, dining, and jobs. 

Working Hand in Hand with the Project Owners

Sango Court was originally intended to be built conventionally. However, Nibbi worked closely with the owner of this project, Resources for Community Development (RCD), and David Baker Architects early on in the preconstruction and design development process to evaluate a conventional versus a modular approach to building the project. Ultimately, it was determined that the application of modular construction was feasible, would benefit the project financially, and would deliver high-quality units to future residents. 

Nibbi Project Executive Tom Giarrusso offered his insight into the overall process. “The owners have been with us every step of the way. They put a lot of faith and trust in Nibbi to find a path to a successful project.” 

Tom oversees the whole project, from preconstruction through close-out. He credits Nibbi’s conservative approach, patience, and determined focus on the project with its success. “Nibbi did pre-planning right. We pre-planned extensively, and executed very well.” 

The team did a tremendous amount of research, interviewed modular building teams, made visits to other modular construction sites, and asked a ton of questions prior to the start of the project. 

The most important piece of research for this project was in finding the right modular manufacturer to support the unique needs of the project. Initially Nibbi performed research on several modular manufacturers to gain an understanding of each potential company’s bonding capacity, product type, and production capacity to take on the project. After gathering this info, Nibbi bid the work out to three companies and selected the lowest qualified proposal.

Finding the Right Modular Manufacturer

An unforeseen delay in project funding caused the project to forfeit its place in the production queue of the modular manufacturer originally selected for the project. Eventually the funds resurfaced for the continuation of Sango Court, but by missing the original production queue with the manufacturer of choice, the project was still in jeopardy. It was at this point that the high-powered project team called on their knowledge to pull a new manufacturer from the woodwork. Nibbi was determined to make this job work, and the owner relied on Nibbi to find a manufacturer that could meet the project’s schedule and budget.

Randall Thompson, the Senior Preconstruction Manager, can be credited with much of the maneuvering and quick thinking that ultimately resurrected the job. “We had to quickly go back out for proposals to shift to a manufacturer who had time for the original schedule. The design then had to be reworked to fit their manufacturing process and methods” 

The new manufacturer, Autovol, boasted a warehouse full of state-of-the-art, robotic arms, and worked with Nibbi in an expedited design coordination session to maintain the project schedule and original requirements. With the quick turn-around, Nibbi and the owner placed a lot of faith in Autovol as this was their first project out of the gate for a third party private client. 

Senior Superintendent Mike Dorsa joined the project in November 2021, about the same time that Autovol was brought onboard. “Autovol was the furthest along in automating their process. The more automated, the more precise and easy the build is. Avoiding the need to fix human error saves a ton of time.”

“Very quickly, we determined that we picked the right trade partner,” Says Tom. “The coolness factor of this manufacturer and their cutting edge robotic approach yielded results, and quality was there.” 

The Modular Process

The modular process is very much the melding of construction and manufacturing, with the component of prefabrication as the most prominent element. A lot of the project effort must be completed much earlier than a conventional build. 

Essentially, the modular units are built offsite by Autovol while the site is concurrently prepped by the construction team. So while Nibbi is constructing the building’s foundations and podium in California, Autovol is manufacturing modular units offsite in Idaho. “The benefit of this process,” says Randall, “is the high level of coordination and completion of design before work gets to the field. It allows us to identify clash detections early on in the process before they have the chance to delay construction.”

Additionally, the modular manufacturer interfaces directly with the MEP and Structural design teams to solve design challenges that would often fall on the construction team. The direct design liaison, Prefab Logic made communication between the manufacturer, the General Contractor, and design team flow easily, and facilitated the expedited design process, making work with the new manufacturer possible. “Pulling forward this design coordination that usually happens during construction means no design work can be delegated – it must be done before manufacturing.” Says Mike. 

With design pressure lifted from the construction team, Mike and the team turned their attention to the pre-planning process, a huge effort in harmonizing all necessary steps and communications between parties involved. Their use of pull-planning successfully led coordination between Autovol and the onsite project team. During this process, one of the project’s key partners was Accuset – a consultant that coordinated with Nibbi on all the logistics of setting modules. They were instrumental to the process and worked hand in hand with the team onsite during the setting operation, allowing for a very smooth building process.

“We set all modules in twelve shifts over two weeks as opposed to a five month conventional build framing cycle!” Says Mike. Ultimately, the use of modular construction reduced the overall construction schedule by 2.5 months. 

Once completed, Sango Court will house 102 units over two building structures. The 102 modular apartments will consist of 23 studios, 40 one-bedrooms, 27 2-bedrooms, and 12 3-bedrooms. Resident amenities cover a large, landscaped interior courtyard with outdoor seating, a community room with a full kitchen, on-site property management, utility rooms, and supportive services programming. The building’s concrete podium includes parking for 60 vehicles and 102 bikes.

A Modular Future

As Sango Court approaches a successful completion, Nibbi regards the modular delivery and construction approach as a viable solution; a solution yielding a reduction to the budget and schedule. Presently, Nibbi is working with several clients early in design to help them evaluate a modular approach by providing a preliminary budget and feasibility study on the best construction solution for the project. As the project progresses, Nibbi emphasizes the importance of early team engagement to evaluate and identify potential challenges, issues and risks that enable the team to develop mitigation strategies.

Ultimately, though not complete, Sango Court has been a huge success. Randall adds “Nibbi did a tremendous amount of homework and put all that into planning and collaborating with the collective project team. We are looking forward to applying our success and experience towards our next modular project.”

 

December 17, 2021

Luna Vista Case Study

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Luna Vista (950 El Camino Real) was recently featured in a case study published by APA – The Engineered Wood Association. The study is titled “Engineering Solutions for a More Inclusive Community” and highlights the collaboration between Alta Housing, Van Meter Williams Pollack, and Nibbi SPS, Nibbi’s self-perform division. The three worked together to creatively incorporate wood into a new affordable housing complex to keep costs low, tackle a public predicament, and give rise to a stronger, more inclusive community. In the case study, Nibbi SPS’s Senior Project Manager, Jeff Shibata, offered insight into how Nibbi SPS gave maximum value and quality to the client.

Nibbi SPS utilized prefabricated floor cassettes to provide an innovative and cost-effective solution to Alta Housing’s budget constraints. Nobles Construction Components Inc. constructed the floor cassettes and then shipped them to the Nibbi SPS team to set. Jeff says, “We were able to set all the floors in just six days by using the floor cassettes, and each floor of the complex we could construct in about two weeks.” The prefabricated floor cassettes were a significant win for all involved as they accelerated construction times, minimized construction costs, and improved safety significantly! Jeff shared that using floor cassettes greatly enhanced safety for his crew. Instead of workers having to walk on the upper floors, rolling joists, and constructing the floors in place, they could easily set a floor cassette, use that to tie off, and continue working from there—they were always tied off!

We are proud of our Nibbi SPS team for offering innovative solutions to meet our client’s needs. Through innovative design and the creative use of engineered wood products, the team united with the community to build affordable housing for Mountain View residents. The case study is available to download for free at apawood.org; check it out to learn more!

October 22, 2021

A Win for Affordable Housing!

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It has been an exciting several months for affordable housing developers and developments in California! In May, we received fantastic news from Governor Gavin Newsom. In Governor Newsom’s revision to the 2021-22 state budget, he addressed homelessness and increased funding for affordable housing. 

This announcement was a massive win for our clients and people in California who deserve an affordable place to live and thrive. Governor Newsom’s revised budget included an additional $1.75 billion in Housing and Community Development (HCD) grants for shovel-ready developments. A “shovel ready” development is a project that is essentially ready to go! It has been designed, planned, and a general contractor has been selected; they just need the funding to come through to begin construction. 

Here is some additional information on what was included in the budget revision

• $300 million for the preservation of HCD-funded projects. $500 million to HCD for implementation grants. 

• $500 million to continue our state’s investments in the low-income housing tax credits: This will allow our state to continue to build desperately needed affordable homes throughout California. 

• $4 billion for affordable student housing. 

In September, we were honored to host an exciting event with City Supervisors, MidPen Housing Corporation, and more at Foon Lok West (Parcel A1) in Oakland! The event discussed Gov. Gavin Newsom’s revised state budget and detailed how this money will affect the backlog of shovel-ready affordable housing developments. We look forward to keeping the push for more affordable housing going and congratulate our amazing non-profit clients and developers on their essential work of making housing accessible for all. To learn more, view Governor Newsom’s revised budget here.

July 31, 2020

Nibbi Wins Award!

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A huge thanks to Levelset for recognizing Nibbi as a 2020 Winner of the “Excellence in Managing Payments” award! We are proud to win this award for ensuring subcontractors and suppliers on our projects are paid on time, and we are committed to our trade partners’ success.

This award is meaningful to us because it reflects the growing effort in our industry to help our trade partners gain access to more substantial and better opportunities. We are delighted to receive this award because our commitment to our trade partners is also our commitment to the community. More importantly, we are pleased Levelset is shedding light on the benefits that come with removing financial barriers to success for small, local, and minority-owned subcontractors and businesses.

December 18, 2019

Nibbi goes Modular!

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Why is modular building so popular? Because it allows builders to begin construction off-site while waiting for permits and since the units are built in a factory setting, weather delays are non-existent! All of this means, efficiency and an on-schedule project for our clients.

Although 355 Sango Court is not technically Nibbi’s first modular project, it will be our first of this scale! A fun fact: Nibbi’s first modular project was completed in 1970 for the San Francisco Unified School District. To prepare for 355 Sango Court, the project team met with contractors to learn more.

Nibbi met with two modular contractors at their factories. On this trip, we gained insight into the modular manufacturing process from floor framing to unit finishes and how onsite structural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and fire sprinkler connections are made between the modular units and the site-built construction.

For the 355 Sango Court project, Nibbi is looking to partner with a modular company to manufacture approximately 110 modules that will be set on-site to construct the 102-unit wood-framed apartment structure. We are eager to get to work on this project for RCD Housing!

March 29, 2019

626 Mission Bay Wins Affordable Housing Deal of the Year!

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We are excited to announce 626 Mission Bay has been awarded “Best Affordable Housing Deal of the Year” by the San Francisco Business Times!

Nibbi worked with TNDC and Mithun/Studio Vara to build 143 affordable homes for formerly homeless families. The new building also offers supportive services focused on health and wellness.

The project was chosen as “Best Affordable Housing Deal of Year” because of the community the new building has brought to Mission Bay. TNDC CEO, Don Falk, says, “the way that the neighborhood is emerging now is truly striking […] it has a real vibrancy that I don’t think was there five years ago.” 626 Mission Bay has strengthened Nibbi’s value of “social responsibility” by proving our work truly impacts the communities in which we build.

July 24, 2017

RAD Rehabilitations Receive Raves

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Politico Magazine recently published a highly favorable article on the RAD program in San Francisco.  Given the very challenging nature of this rehabilitation work, it’s gratifying to see the refreshed buildings getting such a positive reception.  Nibbi has completed 3 RAD projects so far and is working on several more at this time.

Politico’s online article contains lots of interesting background on the RAD program and how it’s making huge improvements to the lives of very low-income residents in San Francisco.  You can check it out here.

Photo by Tom Tracy