Each year, general and specialty contractors gather at the Associated General Contractors of Colorado’s ACE Awards Gala. They turn out to celebrate their accomplishments, the work of their peers and to learn which projects will take home the ACE, silver and bronze awards.

This year, Sturgeon Electric teams came home with wins in two categories. The first was an ACE (first place) award for “Meeting the Challenge of a Difficult Job” with the successful completion of the Eisenhower-Johnson Memorial Tunnel ITS Upgrades for Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT). The upgrades were finished on time, on budget and with safety excellence.

The second win was a silver award for the UCHealth Longs Peak hospital expansion and renovation in the $6 and $10 million category for specialty contractor projects.

Upgrading Transportation Systems to Keep Colorado Travelers Safer

Since the 1970s, the Eisenhower-Johnson Memorial Tunnel has served as a critical, heavily trafficked, year-round corridor linking the eastern slope of Colorado to the rest of the state west of the Continental Divide.

However, over time the analog copper technology used to help monitor the health and safety of the traveling public became outdated. CDOT sought to modernize the cameras and signage directly in and around the tunnel with upgraded technology that would allow it to be monitored and controlled from state-of-the-art control rooms at each end of the tunnel and the main command center in Golden, Colo.

Sturgeon Electric’s transportation division took on the vital and challenging project of upgrading the Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS), including the overhead variable message signs (VMS) and closed-circuit television (CCTV) in and around the tunnel. The upgrades would enable CDOT to better monitor traffic flow, traffic incidents, and display current information for travelers.

The electrical work scope included installing 22 VMs and associated control cabinets, replacement of all cameras, ethernet, cabling, and associated equipment, and installation of lane use signs (LUS) for traffic control. Sturgeon Electric’s upgrade project was one of seven simultaneous tunnel improvement projects going on and Sturgeon Electric led traffic control management for all of them.

The upgrades came with unique challenges. The highly visible project required all scopes of work to be completed while still allowing public use of the tunnel for nearly the entire project lifecycle – it could close only for very short periods at specific hours.

Sturgeon Electric created a strong traffic control plan and stayed in communication with CDOT and other subcontractors so work could be safely performed around the heavy traffic flowing through the tunnel.

They also developed an innovative way to meet requirements for monitoring and tracking the location of equipment being used inside the tunnel where GPS cannot operate.

The entire project took place at high elevation, and much of the work scope required working within confined spaces within the tunnel or above the tunnel bores in air plenums (cavities that allow air to flow through the tunnel) where fiber and communication systems were installed.

Their innovation, creativity, and planning drove results. Sturgeon Electric and its subcontractors worked more than 27,759 hours while maintaining safety excellence. The project, which began in July 2023, was completed on time and budget during the summer of 2024.

A Collaborative Hospital Expansion to Serve a Growing Community

UC Health’s Longs Peak Hospital in Longmont serves many Colorado communities including Firestone, Frederick, Dacono, Erie, Platteville, Fort Lupton and Berthoud. Due to the region’s steady population growth and an increased demand for healthcare services, the hospital needed to be expanded and renovated for the community it serves.

Sturgeon Electric supported the 25-phase project which would expand the hospital from 53 patient beds to 91, and add many new rooms and suites for emergencies, surgeries and births. They were responsible for powering the new three-story tower, a three-story courtyard expansion which connects the hospital to the ambulatory surgery center, a new elevated helideck with an elevator and equipment penthouse, extensive renovations, and installing critical backup power infrastructure.

Successfully renovating and expanding the active healthcare facility without disrupting its operation involved hours of coordination with the hospital, conducting overnight work and phased shutdowns of existing switchgear, temporary power rerouting, energized electrical work and more.

As a preconstruction/design-assist partner, Sturgeon Electric worked closely with the general contractor, design partners, and client from initial planning all the way to completion in September 2025.

Sturgeon Electric knew that for the teams to work together cohesively, their execution had to be rooted in a team-first attitude.

“It was very much a collaborative approach as an entire project team to get to the finish line,” said Sturgeon Electric Project Manager Jacob Giron.

They participated in weekly coordination meetings, building information modeling (BIM) clash detection sessions, mechanical/electrical/plumbing (MEP) commissioning meetings and LEAN pull-planning workshops. The collaborative approach fostered transparency and accountability and enabled rapid decision making once construction was underway.

They successfully led BIM coordination for many of the renovated and new areas of the hospital, coordinating complex electrical pathways with other MEP or structural systems within tight spaces.

Prefabrication contributed to efficiency and safety on the job. Sturgeon Electric streamlined installations by utilizing sister company 1912 Manufacturing to prefabricate most of the panelboard feeder conduits and working with another company to prefabricate all in-wall rough-in components.

Another way the team saved time and disruption to other trades on site was by creating modular electrical room assemblies, pre-assembling them offsite, and putting them in place once the rooms were ready.

Safety was a core value for the team throughout the project. Sturgeon Electric conducted all work with a “safety leader” mindset which included following safety procedures, conducting hazard analyses, and auditing 5S systems regularly to maintain safety excellence.

They also implemented infection control risk assessments (ICRA) to protect patients from construction dust and contaminants, and used negative air machines, HEPA filters and sealed work areas to protect patients and workers. Their dedication to safety resulted in more than 46,000 hours worked without any lost-time incidents.

“This project wasn’t just about expanding a hospital,” Giron said. “We built something that will serve generations, and we did it with precision, compassion, and teamwork.”

Following the project’s silver award win, District Manager Kelly Zink said, “The entire team who worked on the Longs Peak expansion should be proud of what they accomplished. The Longs Peak expansion was no ordinary project; it was a 25-phase transformation carried out in an active healthcare facility where employee and patient safety could never be compromised. Their expertise, dedication to safety and team mindset is what it takes to succeed. I’m very proud of their success and this award acknowledging their achievement.”

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Spanning nearly 900 acres of Maine wilderness, the Three Corners Solar Farm stands as the state’s largest solar project to date. Electrical contractor, E.S. Boulos Company (E.S. Boulos), successfully led the project to completion in October of 2024 as the engineer-procure-construct (EPC) contractor. Their scope included overseeing and installing 880,000 feet of DC feeder cable, 21 miles of 35kV medium voltage feeders, and hundreds of thousands of feet of string wire connecting panel to panel, across the massive site.

Unpredictable weather and strict environmental regulations added challenges to this large-scale effort. Through ingenuity, resilience, and attention to detail, the E.S. Boulos crews rose to the challenge, delivering outstanding results under demanding conditions to complete this unprecedented project.

Read more: E.S. Boulos Drives Success as EPC Contractor for Maine’s Largest Solar Project

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Spanning nearly 900 acres of Maine wilderness, the Three Corners Solar Farm stands as the state’s largest solar project to date. Electrical contractor, E.S. Boulos Company (E.S. Boulos), successfully led the project to completion in October of 2024 as the engineer-procure-construct (EPC) contractor. Their scope included overseeing and installing 880,000 feet of DC feeder cable, 21 miles of 35kV medium voltage feeders, and hundreds of thousands of feet of string wire connecting panel to panel, across the massive site.

Unpredictable weather and strict environmental regulations added challenges to this large-scale effort. Through ingenuity, resilience, and attention to detail, the E.S. Boulos crews rose to the challenge, delivering outstanding results under demanding conditions to complete this unprecedented project.

MYR Group Companies Collaborate for Comprehensive Electrical Solutions

As an MYR Group Inc. (MYR Group) subsidiary, E.S. Boulos leveraged the firm’s network of subsidiary companies to deliver comprehensive, end-to-end project solutions.

“The advantage of using an MYR Group company is we have multiple sister companies that specialize in different scopes of work,” said Aric Dostie, an E.S. Boulos project manager, “We were able to provide not only the solar installation and the PV collection wiring, but the medium voltage loop and overhead collection line as well, all as one company.”

In the case of the Three Corners Solar project, E.S. Boulos teamed up with two MYR Group subsidiaries — MYR Energy Services Inc. (MYR Energy), MYR Group’s national large projects team, and Harlan Electric Company (Harlan Electric), which operates in New Hampshire.

MYR Energy Services was instrumental in initiating the project. They provided estimating support and were involved throughout the project to manage and execute the installation of the solar modules on site. E.S. Boulos engaged Harlan Electric to construct the roughly five miles of overhead collection on site. These collector lines carried power from the individual solar arrays back to a central on-site substation, where it was integrated into Maine’s electrical distribution grid. Equipped with their own drilling crew, the Harlan Electric team installed all wooden poles and steel structures, working with a local concrete company to set foundations, then stringing all overhead lines and making the final connections.

Taking on Stringent Environmental Regulations on Maine’s Largest Solar Farm

Maine’s environmental protocols are some of the strictest in the country, making solar farm construction particularly difficult, but E.S. Boulos was equipped to handle the challenge. Throughout the project, they exceeded expectations in prioritizing the state’s environmental regulations and standards, even receiving recognition from Maine’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), the project’s third-party inspector, and client Longroad Energy for their environmental compliance efforts.

“The scale of the project and the close coordination with agencies highlighted the criticality of the project being designed and constructed with the utmost care and attention to environmental compliance,” a representative from Longroad Energy said. “E.S. Boulos and Comprehensive Land Technologies (“CLT”) engaged in a proactive and committed manner from the planning stages through completion to meet the environmental standards required for solar projects in Maine. Longroad received complimentary remarks from inspectors, permitting agencies, and community members for the relentless attention and effective methods used to protect the local environment, mitigate impacts caused by an immense construction effort, and successfully complete a flagship solar project in New England.”

The expansive site was heavily wooded and contained several environmentally sensitive resources including vernal pools, streams, wildlife habitation areas, and woodland buffers. This required crews to adhere to best management practices (BMPs) enforced to protect the land while ensuring the other parties involved in the work were doing the same. The team went above and beyond what was required, implementing additional BMPs including land stabilization using approximately 90,000 bales of straw and hay mulch to avoid potential run off or sedimentation into the surrounding wetlands, installing thousands of feet of subterranean drainage networks, and constructing double berms around the perimeter of each array using erosion control materials as further protection from run off.

The project’s site superintendent, Gene Flaherty, said that successfully developing and executing these solutions required being proactive and resourceful, paired with diligent attention to detail.

“One of my roles was daily inspections of our environment best management practices,” Flaherty said, “I would walk the site and check everything- understanding how the water flows to see how things are going and making sure that all our protections were in place.”

With 900 acres to cover, this oversight was a large task, but E.S. Boulos went above and beyond in their attention to detail to prevent problems before they started.

“Being proactive was critical to the operation, especially because we had so many wetlands in the area,” Flaherty said. “Once we saw something start to deteriorate, we made sure we were in there making it better. Sometimes we had to do quite a few creative things that were above and beyond the normal BMPs required by the state.”

The team completed work on the project in nearly two years with no major violations. The few minor deviations encountered were corrected promptly, often before the inspector left the site.

When Mud Met Machinery, E.S. Boulos Kept the Project Moving and Crews Safe

The abnormally warm winter of 2022 presented a large hurdle for the MYR Group subsidiaries working to stay safe and meet deadlines. The high temperatures and precipitation that met New England that year were a recipe for a difficult mud season at the jobsite. As the EPC contractor for the project, E.S. Boulos found a way to deal with these muddy conditions efficiently while sticking to the schedule and upholding a commitment to safety.

“We had a number of pieces of equipment get stuck into the mud,” Dostie said, “We pulled out several forklifts that were buried right up to the frame and multiple skid steers. We had the big rear dump trucks with four-foot tires right up to the axle in mud.”

Despite this, E.S. Boulos proudly reported zero recordable safety incidents for both their crews and their subcontractors.

“Our safety team worked  with all crews on site to establish methods and procedures that made sure we stuck to our core value of safety, and ultimately we had a successful project without a single recordable,” Scott Marquis, MYR Group regional vice president, said, “It was a result of the leadership we had on the team and our relationship with the subcontractors we had participating in the project.”

The weather also meant that extra measures had to be taken to prevent disturbance to the land. Water runoff from the hills had to be managed so as to not flood the surrounding wetlands. The extreme weather was not something the teams had originally anticipated, but with adaptability and ingenuity, they were able to combat it and help protect the property.

“In the DEP permit, we’re supposed to have two one-foot berms around the perimeter of the job site,” Flaherty said, “That’s what you have to do, but all the measures we took beyond that were adapted as we went. The drainage, the plunge pools, the giant berms- all of that was us adapting in real time.”

On a project this massive with challenges like these, the MYR Group companies’ ability to address them as one team was key to their success.

“It was a team mentality for us on the EPC end,” Flaherty noted. “If crews were out there battling some water or someone needed something, it didn’t matter who you were, you were out there helping.”

It doesn’t stop here. Our teams are delivering successful, large-scale EPC projects across the country.

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Isabela’s efforts support 1912 Manufacturing, the prefabrication division of Sturgeon Electric, where she has been for nearly a year. The group works to enhance project efficiency by specializing in off-site prefabrication and kitting. Its work allows field teams to stay on schedule and meet tight deadlines. By reducing on-site labor and streamlining material prep, they improve workflow, minimize waste, and keep projects moving while offering project-specific customization.

Q: What brought you to inside electrical work? How did you get started and why?

I joined IBEW Local 68 four years ago as an apprentice with a clear goal: I wanted to build a career where I could work with my hands and see the real-world results of what I do every day. I wanted to learn a skilled trade, something that offered both stability and the chance to grow. Electrical work quickly stood out.

Q: What is your job title and what do you do?

I am the Material Logistics Coordinator for 1912. I order material, track/enter budgets and productivity, and send out proposals/quotes to internal and external customers.  Additionally, I help mentor the apprentices just entering the trade.

Q: Why do you like what you do?

The satisfaction of walking through a finished job site and knowing you had a hand in making it happen. It’s a day-to-day challenge, and it’s rewarding in a way that few other jobs are.

I am proud to represent and empower women in the skilled trades, breaking barriers and paving the way for future generations.

Isabela Montoya, 1912 Manufacturing Material Logistics Coordinator

Q: How have you seen yourself grow and progress over the course of your career so far?

During my time in the field, I gained a solid foundation in electrical work, learning not just technical skills, but also how to work efficiently, safely, and as part of a team. Every job site offered something new, and that hands-on experience shaped the way I approach challenges today. When I moved into this role, it was a big step, and one that pushed me to grow in different ways. I went from installing systems to planning them, coordinating materials, setting timelines, managing budgets, and keeping communication flowing between teams. The transition taught me how important it is to understand both the big picture and the small details that keep a job running smoothly. I’ve seen myself grow from someone just learning the trade to someone helping lead and support the work behind the scenes. It’s been a rewarding journey so far, and I’m excited to keep learning and contributing to the success of our projects and our team.

Q: Is there anything you’re particularly proud of in your career so far?

I am proud to represent and empower women in the skilled trades, breaking barriers and paving the way for future generations.

Q: Describe what the typical day-to-day looks like in your role.

We start each day with a team huddle and stretch and flex, followed by a daily meeting with the manufacturing team to review all current prefab jobs—what’s done, in progress, or behind. This sets our priorities. As job requests come in, I review BIM drawings, order materials, and set time goals for each assembly. I print spools and labels to keep everything organized. Throughout the day, I walk the floor, assist the team, stage materials, and ensure smooth operations. I also price completed projects, write proposals, track budgets, and coordinate with job sites to keep everything aligned.

Q: For those who may not be as familiar with 1912 Manufacturing, what do you do?

Prefab plays a critical role in supporting project efficiency and execution. We specialize in prefabricating and kitting assemblies off-site, which allows our field teams to stay on schedule and meet aggressive project deadlines. By streamlining material preparation and reducing on-site labor demands, we help improve workflow, minimize waste, and keep jobs moving.  Additionally, we provide a great deal of customization with our fabrications. At 1912 Manufacturing, we can support the custom prefabrication needs of any MYR Group subsidiary as well as for customers outside of the company.

Q: How does 1912 excel at what they do?

Although we are experts at many things, we are constantly learning and evolving with the trade.  We get better at interpreting communication from the field and BIM, we get better and more creative in how we package and ship our fabrications.  We continually evolve. 

Q: How does 1912 benefit their clients?

We minimize delays and ensure alignment with job site needs. This is done through clear communication, planning, and on-time execution.

Q: What excites you about your job?

Every day brings something new, I’m constantly learning—whether it’s improving my skills in Excel or gaining hands-on experience on the shop floor. The variety in daily tasks is what makes the job exciting.

Q: How does your team help you grow and support you?

My team is incredibly supportive and has walked me through every step of my career, from my first day in the trade to my first day in my new role. They foster a collaborative environment where everyone is encouraged to ask questions and take on new challenges. Their guidance and feedback have been key to my professional growth.

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For more than 80 years, MaineHealth Maine Medical Center (MHMMC) and E.S. Boulos Company (E.S. Boulos) have forged a relationship built on collaboration and trust. Leveraging the national resources of their parent company, MYR Group Inc., E.S. Boulos continues to support Portland’s premier medical facility by providing industry-leading electrical and telecommunication (telecom) technology installed with precision, efficiency, and safety.

In May of 2024, E.S. Boulos and MHMMC wrapped up their latest successful project together: the electrical construction and telecom installation of the new Malone Family Tower. This seven-story addition to the hospital is designed to keep the hospital at the forefront of medical care. The project was one of their most complex to date and included the electrification of 20 operating rooms, 96 new single-patient beds, a new post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) suite with 44 post- and pre-op recovery rooms, a new central sterile processing facility, and the telecom technology connecting it all.

A One-Stop Shop for a Longstanding Partner

By offering the hospital comprehensive services that combine electrical and telecom capabilities for more than 30 years, E.S. Boulos has been a one-stop shop for MHMMC, streamlining projects, reducing costs, and ensuring seamless execution.

“You get to know how [the hospital] works,” said Ron O’Brion, a now-retired E.S. Boulos superintendent who worked at MHMMC for about 15 years, “And they appreciate the knowledge we have.”

MHMMC can rely on E.S. Boulos to tackle any issue fast due to their extensive experience in New England’s health care sector and the company’s inner knowledge of MNMMC’s main campus.

“MHMMC has relied on us as we have a strong understanding of their facility,” said Jesse Klimaytis, a senior project manager for E.S. Boulos. “We have an understanding of their needs as patients and as clients.”

E.S. Boulos has always placed an important emphasis on being a dependable partner, because it translates directly to cost and time savings for clients. In fact, when faced with the dire supply chain shortages on the Malone Family Tower project that resulted from the COVID-19 pandemic, the team worked to ensure they would have all the materials necessary for the work before even bidding the project.

“There was at least a year lead time on cable, so very early on we were looking at trying to get material without even having the job yet,” said E.S. Boulos teledata Project Manager Dan Broy, “We worked together with the owner and the distributors to make sure that if we got this job we’d be able to get the material.”

Dedication like this is why MHMMC has come to recognize E.S. Boulos’ commitment to reliable project outcomes.

“They expect it,” O’Brion said, “And we take pride in getting it done.”

Healthcare Expertise Drives Project Efficiency

Working in hospitals presents unique challenges, such as adhering to strict guidelines and operating around a 24/7 schedule. E.S. Boulos’ familiarity with MHMMC’s facilities has been key to overcoming these obstacles.

“The efficiency that we gain with the knowledge of the facility that we have is hard to match,” said Scott Marquis, president of E.S. Boulos. “Anybody else coming in would have a difficult time coming in cold and trying to complete some of the projects, especially in the existing facility, because they will have no way of knowing what it’s going to take to get power feeds, lighting feeds, or emergency circuits from where they are to where they need to go.”

E.S. Boulos has reliably and safely handled complex projects over the years, and MHMMC has come to value this dependable service. In fact, the Malone Family Tower project required more than 127,000 workhours, and the team proudly reported zero recordable incidents.

“It’s been a good relationship through many, many years, and we’ve done some incredible things here as far as infrastructure changes that affect the whole complex,” said Rick Fickett, a now-retired E.S. Boulos crew member who joined MHMMC construction back in 1966, “I’m very proud to say that we’ve done it all, sometimes without the hospital even knowing we were there.”

A Partnership Built on Trust

The combination of experience, capability, and trust that goes into all E.S. Boulos’ work for MHMMC has enabled them to accomplish impressive telecom and electrification feats, and we believe it will continue to translate into a successful future.

“I almost treat it like a work family in a way,” Klimaytis, who has been working at MHMMC since 2013, said. “We have a level of trust with each other.”

E.S. Boulos is helping customers across the northeast with their comprehensive commercial construction capabilities.

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Ensuring safety is essential for our people and our utility customers. MYR Group’s transmission and distribution (T&D) operations teams are improving safety measures by implementing industry-leading rope inspection processes and adopting AI technology to further strengthen these efforts.

Why rope inspection matters

Rope is an integral tool in electrical transmission and distribution work, used in wire pulls and transmission haul backs on projects of all sizes and voltages.

If rope breaks on the job during a pull, the resulting dropped line can cause anything from minor injury, property damage and unplanned outages, to severe injuries and death. Efforts to prevent rope failures are critical to keeping both our lineworkers and the public safe.

Developing best practices for rope inspection

Years ago, MYR Group set out to prevent these kinds of potential rope failures from happening by developing and implementing a rope inspection process for our transmission and distribution operations. This process, which began in 2016, has evolved to establish industry-leading best practices for rope inspection. Most recently, we have enhanced these practices by incorporating AI technology to improve the visual inspection process, ensuring even greater reliability and safety.

cJosh Holland is integral to MYR Group’s Fleet department. He oversees the critical aspect of fleet and asset management for all rope used in wire stringing across MYR Group’s companies. Together, the rope inspection team inspected more than 5 million feet of rope in 2024 and expect to continue at that pace annually.

“I want every wire pull to be a safe pull. Some of my best friends are lineworkers and whatever we can do to help protect them in the field is our main goal,” says Holland.

The team visually inspects all rope once a year, ensuring that no rope remains in the field for more than a year without being inspected.

It is also inspected every time it changes locations within MYR Group. For example, if a rope is being used by Sturgeon Electric in Colorado and going to be sent to Harlan Electric for a project in the Northeast, it goes to the rope inspection team in Indiana for inspection in between.

These best practices are applied to all rope the company owns and anything that comes with rental equipment before it is ever sent out to a job site.

While the industry standard is 3-to-1 strength for a safe workload, MYR Group’s rope inspection technicians use a higher 3.5-to-1 ratio. This means rope on a 4,000 lb. puller would need to meet the threshold of 14,000 lb. break strength for MYR Group to approve use of the rope.

Embracing technology to strengthen our rope inspection processes

Implementing regular inspections of all rope was already making work safer and reducing rope failures when Holland learned about a new high-tech product to improve rope inspection. A company called Scope developed an AI system to detect damage and measure the quality of a used rope compared to a new rope.

This innovative technology is a device with multiple cameras that rope can be pulled through as the cameras image the rope. It uses AI technology to analyze the condition of the rope, as compared to brand new rope, and produces a “percentage of new” rating, as well as noting the locations of splices, debris, damage and anomalies at points along the rope.

Holland and the entire rope inspection team was influential and “played a crucial role” by collaborating with Scope to pressure-test and validate the technology’s damage detection capabilities, helping it “achieve a high level of accuracy.”

“As one of the first adopters, MYR Group helped pressure-test the system extensively before its public release. By utilizing the Scope system to predict the break strength of line segments, then testing those predictions against actual break strength measurements, MYR Group provided valuable feedback that enabled continuous improvement. Their hands-on involvement allowed Scope’s AI models to be iteratively fine-tuned, ultimately achieving reliable accuracy, ensuring the system was highly effective for real-world use,” Scope wrote on its website.

Following the pressure testing phase, the team implemented the technology in 2024 to successfully augment their visual inspections.

If the SCOPE machine identifies rope conditions that are 65 percent of a new rope’s spliced break strength (or lower), that portion of rope is retired. If the majority of the reel has rope that tests below this threshold, the entire reel is replaced and any rope from it that tests above the threshold is saved for future usage.

The use of Scope’s AI-driven technology has bolstered their processes by providing “an extra set of eyes on the rope,” and providing documentation of the quality of each rope that is second to none.

It also provides time savings in situations where visual inspections discover a section of rope that looks worn or prompts concern. That rope can be fed through the SCOPE machine and more quickly identify the point where the rope quality meets our strength standards again. Then technicians can cut a sample of the section and break test the strength to confirm the results.

“Implementing AI technology for rope inspection has been a game-changer for us. Not only have we significantly reduced rope failures and improved safety, but we’ve also set a new standard for efficiency and best practices in our industry.”

MYR Group Director of Specialty Equipment Josh Holland

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Sturgeon Electric Company, Inc. (Sturgeon Electric) served as a subcontractor and preferred vendor for construction firm Kitchell and the University of Arizona on the seven-story Grand Challenges Research Building. This state-of-the-art facility supports interdisciplinary collaboration, fostering innovation in line with the university’s strategic vision.

Sturgeon Electric’s involvement began early, contributing to design development, constructability reviews, site auditing, and cost validation. Our crews supported procurement planning, mitigated COVID-19 workforce impacts, and ensured overall price and engineering alignment from a contractor’s perspective.

The project involved relocating an existing building transformer, rerouting emergency feeders, and providing temporary generator backup, all while ensuring the existing building remained operational. A new generator was installed to support both current loads and the emergency power needs of the new facility. Sturgeon Electric also installed the building’s ground ring, site lighting, and main trunk lines, incorporating a 480/208 busway system. The lighting design featured both high-end decorative fixtures and specialized, adjustable controls to support various research environments.

Additionally, our crews provided a complete branch system, cable tray routing, and advanced AV/voice-data infrastructure, alongside a university-specific fire alarm system. The lightning protection system was designed to ensure both functionality and aesthetic harmony with the surrounding architecture. Sturgeon Electric also led the design and installation of a custom laboratory ceiling equipment racking system, working closely with Kitchell, the project architects, and a specialized manufacturing team from New York. The modular system was fabricated off-site and precisely assembled on location to meet the lab’s specific needs.

Nestled between an open-air parking structure to the south and an adjacent research building to the north — with access to a specialized lid for transporting massive telescope mirrors just behind it — the project presented unique logistical and structural challenges. Sturgeon Electric’s expertise was key to overcoming these complexities, including the relocation of existing utilities from the building’s footprint. The Grand Challenges Research Building was a finalist for Arizona Real Estate (AZRE) Magazine’s 2025 RED Awards.

Read more: https://azbigmedia.com/real-estate/here-are-the-finalists-for-the-2025-red-awards/

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Each year Engineering News Record (ENR) magazine holds its Regional Best Projects contest, honoring the best construction projects of the year. In 2024, seven projects involving three MYR Group subsidiaries earned accolades.

CSI Electrical Contractors, Inc. (CSI) provided electrical construction services to three projects recognized by ENR California, Huen Electric Inc. (Huen Electric) supported one winning project with ENR New York, and Sturgeon Electric Company (Sturgeon Electric) worked on three projects recognized by ENR Mountain States and ENR Northwest.

The project categories ranged from manufacturing, office, and educational buildings to airport and transit projects.

CSI Serves Three ENR California Best Projects Including ‘Excellence in Sustainability’

ENR California recognized the University of California, Riverside School of Medicine Education Building II (EDII) for both Excellence in Sustainability and an Award of Merit in Higher Education and Research.

According to ENR, “a critical portion of the scope included relocating a large existing electrical yard within the footprint of the new EDII building was to be built. This included multiple high voltage four-way switches, 12-kV high voltage circuits, a 2.5-MW generator, a 75-kV and 1500-kVA transformer, a 500-kW generator and a 12-kV switchgear substation.”

CSI joined the project in 2021 and took on this critical scope of work. They relocated this electrical yard and provided new 15kV switches that tied into the campus loop to feed the new building. The structure included a standard and emergency electrical room on level 1, with additional electrical rooms on each floor of the five-story building. CSI also provided lighting and general power throughout the building, the terrace space, and an extensive plaza area.

CSI also performed electrical construction for the County of San Mateo’s County Office Building 3 project, which earned Best Project in the Government/Public Building category and the Excellence in Sustainability award for that category. The building is the first net-zero energy, LEED Platinum, mass timber civic building in the U.S., according to ENR.

CSI was responsible for directing, coordinating, and overseeing all electrical construction for the all-electric building. They installed all the electrical infrastructure, integrated custom lighting fixtures throughout the facility, and developed the Title 24 compliant electrical design.

The third-winning project CSI provided electrical services for was the LAX Terminal Cores and APM Interface project, which earned an Award of Merit for the Airport/Transit category.

CSI’s scope of work on LAX Terminal Cores included design-build services with an engineering partner. Their design carried out integration requirements for the building management system, Liftnet, baggage handling systems, CCTV, and ACAMS throughout the project.

Their work also involved installing a substantial single-line, lighting and lighting control, power, and LV systems as well as infrastructure for future systems not yet fully designed for the Los Angeles Airport.

“The ENR recognition for the LAX Terminal Cores & APM Interface project is another example of how CSI successfully partners with our clients, subcontractors, suppliers, and stakeholders. We are honored to be recognized as it further bolsters CSI’s technical performance in electrical and low voltage systems at LAX, one of the most trafficked airports in the world,” said Andrew Soffa, CSI’s Executive Vice President of Construction.

Huen Electric Recognized for Work On New Jersey Manufacturer’s Expansion

Huen Electric provided design/build electrical services for the underground utility infrastructure system for the Sea Box Inc. Manufacturing Facility Expansion. This project earned a 2024 Award of Merit from ENR New York.

Sea Box designs, manufactures and customizes shipping containers for government, military, commercial and medical uses.

“The project included a new manufacturing line, increased warehouse and distribution capacity” and office space, according to ENR. It required upgrades to the electrical, stormwater and sewer systems.

Huen Electric designed and constructed the new 8,000-amp, 480-volt service for the plant expansion and a replacement of the existing 2,000-amp, 480-volt service. They also designed and constructed all power and control wiring for all the plant’s equipment, fire alarm systems and general power throughout the building.

Sturgeon Electric Provides Electrical ServiCes to Two ENR Mountain States, One ENR Northwest Award Winner

Denver Water’s state-of-the-art Northwater Treatment Plant claimed Best Project in the water/environment category for ENR Mountain States. The project also earned a Sustainability Award of Merit.

The huge multi-year project involved many parties, including Sturgeon Electric which provided electrical construction of all power components, a communications tower, smart (energy efficient) lighting infrastructure, fire and security alarm systems, and connection of the facility’s hydropower turbine.

The power components included installation and testing of medium-voltage switchgear, a standby generator, all SCADA panels, miles of fiber optic cable and underground duct banking, as well as hundreds of process instrumentation that communications with the SCADA system.

The second one, the I-25 South Gap project, was recognized with an Award of Merit in the highway/bridge category. Sturgeon Electric’s transportation group executed this 18-mile, four-lane highway project in Colorado which included the expansion of the express toll lanes and four new wildlife underpasses.

As the electrical contractor for the project, Sturgeon Electric relocated backbone conduit for the highway system’s existing fiber optic communication infrastructure. This allowed for the installation of new Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) devices as well as future maintenance and additions.

In addition to relocating the existing communications infrastructure, they installed a new fiber backbone the length of the project which required more than 54,000 feet of conduit. Sturgeon Electric also installed all the ITS devices, tolling, signage and a weigh-in-motion scale.

The third award-winning project Sturgeon Electric provided electrical construction services for was in Washington state. The East Link Extension of Sound Transit received an Award of Merit in the airport/transit category from ENR Northwest.

The transit line connects light rail from Seattle to Puget Sound’s east side to ease congestion. Sturgeon Electric constructed the bridge illumination system, modified the junctions box, and installed conduit pathway and conductors for both power and illumination.

MYR Group companies’ involvement on so many award-winning projects continues to illustrate their experience, the quality of their electrical construction services, and their ability to support their customers’ needs on complex and diverse projects.

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MYR Group subsidiary Sturgeon Electric Company’s (Sturgeon Electric) expertise and many years of experience working in the Denver International Airport (DEN) directly contributed to the successful renovation and expansion of the United Airline Club in Concourse B East.

Their determination, creative problem solving, excellent relationships and electrical experience led to overcoming various challenges and completing their work scope safely and on time within one of the world’s busiest airports.

It also earned them a silver award from the Associated General Contractors (AGC) of Colorado which recognized their exceptional work on the project at the ACE Awards Gala on Nov. 11, 2024.

Working for general contractor Turner Construction to support United Airlines, Sturgeon Electric was selected as part of the team for the transformational project which turned the existing lounge into the largest United Club in the world. They managed the entire electrical scope of work.

Investigation and demolition began in September 2021, followed by construction, which was completed on time and turned over to the customer in September 2023.

Throughout the project, Sturgeon Electric identified solutions to various challenges they encountered. When material delays threatened the project, they sourced alternates and when design changes arose, they adapted and problem solved. They also provided value engineering and used Building Information Modeling (BIM) modeling technology to identify necessary adjustments for successful and efficient construction.

Sturgeon Electric achieved safety excellence on the project, completing the work without any recordable or lost-time incidents. This was impressive given the many challenges of the project and collaboration required for all trades to work in the space simultaneously. Using the energy wheel during pre-task planning, a ladders last mentality, updated hardhats and other safety measures all contributed to this safety achievement.

Since its reopening, the remodeled and expanded United Club has received positive reviews from travel publications and bloggers calling it a “tremendous” transformation.

Overcoming Material Delays and Adding Value Through Solutions

More than 77 million people traveled through Denver International Airport (DEN) in 2023, making it a high priority location for new and renovated United Airline Clubs.

Sturgeon Electric supported transformation of the existing one-story club in Concourse B-East into a luxurious and modern three-level space with the demolition of all existing power, fire alarm, telecommunications and emergency communications systems (ECS) and relocation of existing systems that were being retained.

They also installed many entirely new systems: 12 electrical panels with branch circuits, fire alarm systems, ECS system, Audio/Video (AV) system, lighting, power receptacles, lighting control system, TVs, and power for all equipment. Partnering with subcontractors, Sturgeon Electric managed the full scope including installation of the new ECS system, AV system, and the TVs.

Those upgrades required many materials including 80,000 feet of branch conduit, 180,000 feet of branch wire, 7,000 feet of feeder conduit, 17,000 feet of feeder wire and 959 lighting fixtures.

Materials shortages and delays affected items small and large, from the multitude of lighting fixtures to the main breaker. To manage the lighting fixture delays, temporary fixtures were installed to light the space during construction and protected until the permanent ones arrived.

However, a significant delay for the main breaker (which feeds power to the entire lounge) threatened the project schedule. It was backordered three months beyond when they needed it. Critical to meeting deadline, Sturgeon Electric’s general foreman looked for another solution and his excellent relationship with DEN’s maintenance electricians enabled them to source an alternate to install on time.

The team also provided value engineering to improve designs wherever they could. By coordinating with Turner Construction, they came up with the most feasible installation plan for the hundreds of power receptacles needed through the club’s seating areas and took care to ensure outlets and related floor boxes were in the best locations.

Sturgeon Electric also recommended consolidating power packs for the lighting control systems in one location to make them easier to access and troubleshoot and worked with designers and representatives for four months to resolve an issue with the proposed size of a floor box at the e-gates. They were able to find the best solution for the conduit and floor boxes to support those electronic entrances.

BIM Technology Catches Potential Problem Early, Enables Prefabrication Efficiencies

By using Building Information Modeling (BIM) technology Sturgeon Electric helped saved time and money on the project – especially on the electric room buildouts.

After taking the engineer’s drawings to see what equipment had to fit in the electric rooms and getting equipment sizes from vendors, Sturgeon Electric’s BIM team made digital models mapping the equipment to fit in the space and conduit paths to connect the electrical systems.

A potential problem was discovered through clash detection in the BIM program which warns when there is insufficient clearance for equipment. Sturgeon Electric’s team realized the planned electric room wasn’t big enough and were able to widen the room before trying to install the electrical equipment – saving time by avoiding rework.

BIM also enabled Sturgeon Electric to utilize its prefabrication shop to bend large conduit ahead of time, rather than on site, which saved time during the installation process.

Energy Wheel, Ladders Last Contribute to Safety Excellence on United Club Project

The utmost important of safety is embedded in Sturgeon Electric’s work culture and reinforced with training and processes used on all projects. Safety excellence was achieved, with zero recordables and zero lost-time incidents, because of the commitment of all personnel, daily safety processes and improved tools.

Each day the team filled out a pre-task plan board with Turner Construction. The day’s tasks were documented, along with potential safety hazards associated with the tasks and mitigations for those hazards.

The project benefited from using the energy wheel, a scientific tool for improving hazard recognition, to identify and mitigate hazards during pre-task planning.

Additional safety measures utilized on this project included the company’s glove matrix, hardhats with visors, and a ladders last mentality.

The glove matrix offers guidance for appropriate gloves for different tasks to help prevent hand injuries. The updated hardhats made it easier for workers to prevent potential eye injuries from falling particulates when working in ceilings.

Because ladders are a leading cause of construction injuries, Sturgeon Electric used lifts, which have greater stability and safety features, to reduce this risk of injury wherever possible – especially when pulling wire.

Perseverance Results in Project Success

Working in any airport comes with unique security requirements, complex logistics, and the need to time some construction work for the least disruption to travelers and airport tenants.

When necessary, Sturgeon Electric worked night shifts to accommodate the need to remove, replace, or relocate certain systems when there was less airport activity. Many of their tasks had to be fully executed during a single overnight shift.

The Sturgeon Electric team also persevered when additional complications arose. In one instance, a second-floor restaurant below the Club had a pollution control unit on the third floor which needed to be relocated to the roof, reinstalled, and operational in a single night. Getting it tied-in with a ventilation hood in the restaurant proved challenging, but the Sturgeon Electric team kept going – working 24 hours straight to ensure the tenant could provide food services without interruption.

Ultimately, Sturgeon Electric excelled throughout the project by finding solutions, working safely and maintaining a team perspective.

Related Project: Denver International Airport

Our companies overcome challenges and find solutions to deliver the most complex commercial projects.

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There’s a unique hotel now serving downtown Los Angeles, and CSI Electrical Contractors, Inc. (CSI) helped make the project a success. It’s a citizenM hotel, which was executed using modular methods of design and construction.

Modular design and construction is a process that involves building identical units or modules of the structure entirely off-site. Once built, they are delivered to the construction site to be stacked and connected together.

The CSI team provided design-build electrical construction services for citizenM’s Los Angeles Downtown hotel – which holds the distinction of being the tallest modular building in the city.

Working with M.A. Mortenson Company and project owner citizenM, CSI brought extensive commercial project experience, an understanding of state and city construction including environmental standards to this downtown hotel project, while also gaining valuable modular engineering and construction experience at a time when modular construction is gaining popularity.

Working closely with the overseas modular manufacturer, CSI provided design and installation engineering that would convert the installations, especially the proprietary lighting lines, to meet state and city construction standards, codes, and environmental standards.

This upfront collaboration was essential to ensuring all the modules for the 11-story structure would be built correctly before being shipped to California.

Once on-site work began and modules were stacked together by crane – similar to building with Legos – CSI was responsible for the installation of a new Los Angeles Department of Water and Power utility service feed, electrical distribution tying the junction boxes of the modules into building systems as the building took shape, lighting outside the prefabricated modules, and fire alarm system installation.

By embracing modular design and construction, the real estate developer and hotel operator, citizenM, is bringing innovation to hotel construction in cities worldwide. Based in the Netherlands, citizenM was the first and only hotelier to use entirely prefabricated rooms to construct its hotels. The hotelier was also named California and Northwest “Owner of the Year” by Engineering-News Record in 2022. Having rooms prefabricated, shipped, and then stacked can offer several advantages, including lower costs and shorter construction time. 

“Modular construction is a rapidly growing market, and we are grateful for the unique experience the citizenM Los Angeles Downtown Hotel project provided us,” said CSI Project Executive Derek Rivas.

CSI’s successful execution of this project in 2021 opened the door to additional work with Mortenson for citizenM. They are now collaborating to develop the Menlo Park, Calif. hotel – a five-story modular hotel with 240 rooms.

All images: citizenM / Richard Powers Photography

Project Details: citizenM Los Angeles Downtown Hotel

Our companies are equipped to successfully deliver electrical services for the vast range of Commercial and Industrial projects, including hotels, hospitals, airports and more.

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