Before walls are framed and interior work begins, some of the heaviest lifting on a project has already happened. Structural steel has been set, decking installed and precast panels carefully lifted into place. Behind that work is a skilled crew responsible for installing some of the largest and most critical components of a building.
For Fiegen, that work is also where our story began.
My grandpa and company founder Ron Fiegen began his career as an ironworker, working across the country in steel erection and heavy rigging operations. After returning home to Sioux Falls, he continued working in the industry before starting his own erection and crane rental business in 1967, which would eventually grow into Fiegen Construction.
Nearly 60 years later, that work is still part of our story.
A Versatile Crew
Our Iron Crew does a little bit of everything. Depending on the project, they may erect structural steel, install steel decking, set precast wall panels and precast core floor, or take on specialty erection and crane work.
Each type of work comes with its own requirements. Crane placement, site access, material deliveries, building height, weather and construction sequencing all factor into the process. The crew works closely with superintendents, project teams, trade partners and suppliers to coordinate what needs to happen and when.
Their work often comes early in construction, preparing the structure for many of the trades that follow.
Experience in the Field
Every generation of the Fiegen family has spent time working on the erection crew at some point in their careers. From Ron to the generations that followed, learning the business has meant spending time in the field alongside the people doing the work every day.
Ironworkers handle large, heavy materials, often at significant heights and within tight tolerances. The work requires technical knowledge, communication, precision and trust between everyone involved.
For the Fiegen family, that firsthand experience has provided an understanding of the work behind the projects we build and the people who make it happen.
Across the Region
The Fiegen crane has become a familiar sight on jobsites throughout the region and has been used on some of the area’s most prominent projects.
But the crane is only one part of the equation. From rigging and guiding materials to connecting steel and securing components, the crew works together to get each piece safely into place.
Much of their work may eventually be covered by walls, ceilings and finishes, but it remains an essential part of the buildings we construct, and a capability Fiegen is proud to continue today.
A lot has changed since 1967. Our roots haven’t.
Lucas Fiegen, President
Fiegen Construction
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