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When you think about construction projects, you probably picture the big stuff: cranes with steel beams going up and heavy machinery moving dirt. But before any of that happens, there’s a whole lot of groundwork (literally) that needs to be done. At O’Shea Builders’ Civil division, we’ve got a guy for that!

The clock is ticking down until the bell rings for the final day of school.

The end of school might not feel close if you’re working inside those hallways, but those of us making preparations for summer construction projects know that we need to start now!

From about the time he could walk, Brock Bridges was immersed in the world of drag racing. He tagged along with his dad and grandpa as a toddler, attending races around the country. By age 8, Brock was racing on his own, and by 14, he was using the knowledge he had picked up to help build race cars with his family.

In central Illinois, where winters are often harsh, a frozen pipe in your commercial building can mean costly damage.

Celebrating Scott Steiner and his many years at O'Shea!

It all started with an invitation from his future father-in-law.

Amanda Maxheimer is always on the hunt wherever she goes, combing through thrift stores or digging through barns of forgotten relics.

What’s she looking for? She’ll know it when she sees it!

On his first day of teaching at Illinois Central College (ICC), Greg Doolin didn’t have data, notes, attendance records or even keys – another teacher let him into his classroom. Because the class’s previous instructor needed to take a leave in the middle of the course, Greg decided to step in and wing it! 

“VDC has been one of the main factors that has driven our success at Lanphier,” Adam says. “For this project, that has taken shape in the form of BIM coordination, which has been no small undertaking.”

Adopting new technology can be a difficult process, especially in the construction industry. But the benefits are already proving to be worth the effort. “VDC allows for architectural elements, structure, and MEPs to be designed side-by-side in 3D and any problems that arise to be fixed before construction,” Evan shares.

It starts with an empty board… but after just a couple of months, it becomes an intricate design with lots of moving pieces made entirely from junk – like an old trophy, toy car, cardboard box, plastic tubing, or bouncy balls.

Jeff Jarrett joined O’Shea 35 years ago, after he and Mike O’Shea met on a bus in the fall of 1985 while they were both studying at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale.