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Getting After the XNA Terminal Expansion
When Phase 1 of the Northwest Arkansas National Airport (XNA) terminal expansion opened to the public on August 17, Mike Haase and his crew were already deep into the next push. Phases 2, 3 and 4 were moving simultaneously, with excavation, base and paving work happening in parallel to meet an aggressive project timeframe.
It wasn’t the original plan, but the schedule made it necessary. With each phase depending on the work happening before it, the crew has had to keep equipment, material, and people moving in sync. “Plan your work, work your plan, and be prepared to adjust quicky when plans change,” is Haase’s philosophy to making sure his team is ready for what’s next.
Built for the Airfield
Working an active airfield adds another layer of coordination, from security clearances and escorts to inspections and strict pavement requirements. Luckily, the relationship between the crew and the airport has helped make that process work. The airport team gives the crew the access that they need to do their jobs, while our team has learned to account for the time and logistics that come with working on an active airfield.
Keeping the Work Moving
The schedule has also brought challenges that are new to ESS, including a below-ground glycol tank structure. After the excavation crew prepped the site, the structures team moved quickly to placing and tying 50,000 pounds of rebar and pouring 120 yards of concrete for the tank floor in a single week.
“Big shout-out to the Northwest Arkansas structures crew for taking it on and figuring it out,” Haase said. “They really hit the ground running.”
Cross-Team Collaboration
Planning and coordination extends beyond the NWA team. Heavy Highway is providing the paving, along with CTPB, CTB, and Plant manpower and equipment. Sharing resources across branches to deliver for clients and partners throughout the Midwest is one of the things that sets ESS apart, and XNA is a clear example. Haase and his crew make sure they can arrive and get right to work, limiting downtime and supporting them with whatever it takes. That’s the cross-team collaboration that matters most.
Experience That Gets Passed Down
About a third of Haase’s crew has worked with him for close to five years, and many have previous airport experience. That knowledge helps as new employee-owners join the work, including some who are new to construction altogether. Haase gives kudos to his entire crew, and specifically to Nathan Hicks, Austin Hamill, Caleb Neil, and Owen Hurt, for keeping the project moving.
Ownership in the Mix
The strongest example of this crew’s culture is employee ownership and the willingness take on a new challenge and step outside of the box.
Haase points to equipment operators making pavement corrections in 100-degree heat, or someone picking up a shovel, grinder or hot saw simply because the work needs to be done. He calls that attitude “IGAS,” or an I Give A S*** mentality.
“You can say this crew has IGAS,” Haase said. “I think that explains employee ownership right there.”
For a project moving at this pace, it takes crews that work together, take ownership, and keep the schedule on track, both in NWA and across ESS. That’s exactly what they’ve been doing.
