People Behind the Projects

There’s something about summer that makes the momentum feel even stronger. The weather is warmer, the days are longer, and the pace on our jobsites picks up with purpose. As construction progresses and milestones are met, this season we're taking a moment to focus on what truly drives our projects forward: our people.

From longtime team members setting the example for the next generation to students stepping into the field through scholarship programs, this letter is all about the human side of construction—and why it matters more than ever.

Strategy Leading the Way

Spring is on the horizon, and this year, it’s arriving with a full calendar and a renewed sense of momentum. Compared to previous years, we’re seeing an even busier start to the construction season—and we’re ready for it.

Momentum Ahead

As we close out 2024, we acknowledge the challenges and slower-than-anticipated pace of construction activity that marked the final quarter of the year. While this period posed its set of difficulties, it has also presented valuable opportunities for reflection and strategic planning. As we move into 2025, we are optimistic and excited about the promising prospects for growth and success here at Fiegen.

Building Community Through Changing Seasons

As fall settles in, we find ourselves entering a season of renewed focus and energy. The return of students to classrooms signals a time of fresh beginnings, and just as school marks the start of a new chapter, we continue our work on projects that aim to serve and uplift our communities.

As the 2024 Summer Olympics are fully under way, we reflect on our own Olympic-themed Fiegen Rally held this past March, our annual event to celebrate the success of the previous year and get excited as we anticipate all the opportunities ahead.

2024 has gotten off to a quick start for Fiegen Construction, and I would like to share some news.

Happy New Year to you all!

Fall Marks a New Season for Construction

Nature always provides a rhythm of order for me. As the days get shorter and cooler, the visual changes are happening, too. Schools are in full swing, I see more boats in driveways indicating the end of summer, hunting tags are being applied for and the farmers have begun the harvest.

Harvesting has always been interest an of mine. I’ve never run a combine, but the preparation, long hours, and risk/reward element of a farmer’s life reminds me a lot of our construction seasons. It isn’t always the case, but I typically find that commercial construction in the Fall always seems to be busier than all the other seasons. Maybe it’s the number of schools rushing to get wrapped up, the hurry to get things enclosed before the cold or the unexpected client that calls and wants to begin their project prior to frost and try to get enclosed before winter really sets in.

In any case, I notice an exhilaration in the workforce. Crews begin to put on their Carhartts or sweatshirts and get a break from the hot summer sun. I admire our employees for their ability to change with the seasons and adapt to Mother Nature.

Unlocking Potential: Developing and Attracting Young Talent

Between South Dakota’s unemployment rate below 2% at the start of the summer and our region’s continued growth in construction projects this year, you soon realize businesses need to do something different when it comes to workforce recruitment. The old methods of placing an ad in the newspaper, posting jobs online, buying space on billboards or promoting through radio ads just aren’t cutting it any longer.

Along with nearly 300 business and community leaders in Sioux Falls, we had the chance to hear from Bender Commercial at the annual “Market Outlook” event on March 2^nd. While the event always provides valuable information and interesting takeaways, the theme that hit home most to me was, “while economic uncertainty plagues markets across the world, there’s no better place to face these challenges than right here in South Dakota.”

Happy “frigid” Holidays to you all!

I’ve always loved Fall in South Dakota. The trees are changing colors, there’s no shortage of football games to watch and it’s always fun to start thinking about spending time with friends and family during the holiday season. Fall in South Dakota provides a great reminder for me to be grateful for my life in our state.  

With a state unemployment rate of 2.3% (even lower in Sioux Falls), workforce continues to be on the top of everyone’s mind. And if you’re not busy recruiting employees, you better be working hard to retain them. At Fiegen, we’ve worked hard to promote from within, utilize public/private partnerships and capitalize on great, available summer talent. With a busy summer and a steady pipeline of projects upcoming, we understand how important it is to find and hire great talent from a variety of areas.

We’re excited to kick off our first “Fiegen Shop Talk” email and appreciate the opportunity to share with you some of the what’s been happening at Fiegen Construction.

According to the Associated General Contractors of South Dakota, a commercial construction industry trade group, there are currently 24,000 construction jobs in South Dakota. Those jobs provide an average salary of $45,247 per year, and the current median age of a construction tradesman in South Dakota is 41.

“That last statistic is alarming,” according to Lucas Fiegen, AIA, Vice President of Fiegen Construction. “We already know we have an industry-wide labor shortage, but our current workers are aging out faster than new workers entering the industry.”

Lucas is a third-generation construction professional. An Architect who grew up in Sioux Falls, he has worked in the industry for more than a decade—working, among others, with his father, Jeff, and uncle, Rusty. “I serve on several boards and committees throughout our region and I am seeing all of these organizations naming workforce development a top priority for Sioux Falls and South Dakota,” notes Lucas.