Submittal Exchange™ eliminates extensive turnaround times
for the Mercy Medical Center Emergency Department project

"Submittal Exchange expedites the entire construction administration process."
- Gary Schmit, Vice President of Pre-Construction, Henkel Construction Company

Mason City, IA - Construction began on July 12, 2010 to the Mercy Medical Center Emergency Center Department in Mason City, Iowa. With an estimated construction value of $8.7 million, the three-phase emergency department project will house waiting, examination, and trauma rooms. In addition, the project will feature a small public corridor connecting the emergency department to the hospital. The 21,900 sq. ft. project features one level with a 4,000 sq. ft. penthouse to be used for mechanical and electrical items. The 18-month project, anticipated to be completed early 2012, is using Submittal Exchange for submitting, reviewing, and tracking shop drawing and construction submittals electronically.

Henkel Construction Company, based in Mason City, Iowa, is the general contractor on the project. "This is now our eighth project using Submittal Exchange," stated Gary Schmit, Vice President of Pre-Construction with Henkel Construction Company. Established in 1892, Henkel provides general contractor, construction manager, design build, and design construction manager services and has experience working projects from $3 million up to $45 million in construction value. "Before using Submittal Exchange everything was done by hand using mail courier services and you would end up spending so much time preparing, sending, or waiting on a submittal. Submittal Exchange puts everyone on the same page, and because of that it expedites the entire construction administration process," stated Schmit who has 25 years of experience in the construction industry.

"Submittal Exchange has expedited the submittal and information exchange process improving communication for our entire team."
- Mark Trotter, AIA, Regional Healthcare Leader and Project Manager, Flad Architects

Flad Architects, the architect on the project, is based out of Madison, Wisconsin with regional offices located in Atlanta (GA), Tampa (FL), Gainesville (FL), Raleigh (NC), and Stamford (CT). "Submittal Exchange has expedited the submittal and information exchange process improving communication for our entire team," stated Mark Trotter, AIA, Regional Healthcare Leader and Project Manager with Flad Architects' Madison, Wisconsin office. Trotter, who also has 25 years of experience in the construction industry, commented on the role Submittal Exchange has played in turnaround times, "Not too long ago, the invention of the fax machine revolutionized the transfer of information in the construction industry. In today's world of 'need it now' you are able to easily organize, download, and automatically notify your team of updated information with Submittal Exchange."

Schmit recognized the ease of use of Submittal Exchange as an additional advantage and stated, "Submittal Exchange is very user friendly. It's a great solution for the technologically savvy user, and it's very usable for a team member who may have less experience with computers." When asked how he would respond to someone resistant to technology Schmit said, "Just give Submittal Exchange a try, you'll like working with it and learn the benefits very quickly."

"Submittal Exchange provides accountability throughout the project team."
- Gary Schmit, Vice President of Pre-Construction, Henkel Construction Company

Scott Smed, with Bergland + Cram Architects in Mason City, Iowa, who is handling construction administration on the project, agrees with Schmit and Trotter, stating, "The speed Submittal Exchange creates by being able to mark-up one copy, do a quick review, and get the distribution going is almost instantaneous." Smed continued, "The turnaround times are substantially less using Submittal Exchange."

When asked about their favorite feature, team members highlighted the accountability factor that Submittal Exchange provides the project. "Submittal Exchange provides accountability throughout the entire project team. If a review is outstanding, it's pretty apparent whose court it's in, all the information is right there. You always have the status and progress of items," stated Schmit. Trotter and Smed have each benefited in unique ways from the automation Submittal Exchange has provided. "Submittal Exchange provides "real time" status and reminders to the reviewers," stated Trotter. Smed added, "I like the prompting Submittal Exchange provides when there are outstanding items out there. Receiving an e-mail notification is a great reminder."