In-house architects, planners, craftspeople join hands to support mission work

In fall 2022, centers in Facilities were facing a growing backlog of construction and design work and were having to outsource many projects. To shorten the backlog, the Infrastructure Operations division implemented a creative solution, dubbed the Division Agility Transformation.

The project’s goal was to deliver these services in a timely manner in support of mission work and to streamline operations across the division. The project, which lasted two years, resulted in new in-house design and construction services.

“We established new capabilities in Facilities to support the mission more efficiently,” said Anthony Chavez, senior manager who led the transformation effort. “The in-house design and construction teams are ramping up and helping to provide additional agility that didn’t previously exist.”

The new in-house design team provides comprehensive design services of varying scopes and costs for Sandia. The team includes architects and civil, structural, electrical and mechanical engineers. They specialize in interior design and fire alarm, sprinkler and building automation design, and they routinely complete projects on condensed schedules.

“In 2024, the new group completed 198 projects and reduced the office modification backlog by 80%,” senior manager Robin Jones said.

The In-House Design and In-House Construction teams completed a successful project in a high-security area for the Mechanical Systems and Design group in Global Security. The teams were able to complete this project two months earlier and saved $30,000. The project bolstered security at the Labs.

The design team also worked on a project to remodel a senior manager J.J. Jones’s office. The team saved $2,000 and J.J. said, “All-in-all this was the best experience I’ve had with Facilities in my 20 years at the Laboratories.”

Since its transformation, Facilities now offers project development, a process that includes stages like planning, programming, design development and cost estimation.

“Project development is essentially planning and design brought together,” said Malak Hakim, strategic planner and project developer. “It informs how we prioritize projects based on their importance and available resources, ensuring that the most critical projects get the attention and funding they need.”

To support this effort, Facilities recruited 13 experienced construction staff and 42 skilled craft positions across various trades, including mechanical, electrical, plumbing and structural work. Staff in these roles manage projects with budgets below $500,000. Facilities plans to fill 19 more craft positions by the end of 2024. To date, the new construction teams have completed 76 projects.

In September, the team completed remodel of the Enterprise Enabling Solutions and Service office. The space now features 17 offices and four cubicle-style touchdown areas. It can accommodate 25 employees.

“These achievements depict the dedication and hard work of our team leads, planners, support staff and craftspeople,” manager Ramon Baca said. “I’m proud of what we have accomplished in such a short time and appreciate the commitment of each team member in delivering exceptional service in the national interest, which is the core of our mission.”

The Facilities team at Sandia California experienced a similar transformation. They completed a final hiring plan, increasing their ability to deliver hundreds of small projects through in-house design and construction services. Their project overhead was reduced by 60% from when they began in fiscal year 2023. Time spent on design and construction was reduced by 70% for low-complexity projects and 35% for more complex projects.

To learn more about Facilities’ in-house capabilities, reach out to your building manager or facilities portfolio manager.