Above Group is leading the design of a new $15M, 6,600 square foot boiler plant, a critical project to ensure safe and reliable healthcare for veterans at the Marion, Illinois VA Medical Center. This new facility will correct seismic deficiencies in the existing 1940s-era plant while implementing modern energy efficiency standards, decarbonization, and life cycle cost optimization. The new plant is planned to house boiler, control, and generator rooms, restrooms, offices, staff spaces, and a mechanical shop. Above Group is proud to offer project management, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, structural design, and telecommunications engineering design services for this vital infrastructure upgrade.
Above Group, Inc. Named as a Prime Contractor for Two Department of Veterans Affairs AE IDIQ MATOC, TN VISN 9 Contracts.
Melbourne, Florida, January 6, 2025 — Above Group, Inc., a leading provider of innovative engineering services, has been named a prime contractor on two Department of Veterans Affairs Architecture Engineering (AE) Indefinite Delivery (IDIQ) Multiple Award Task Order Contract (MATOC) VISN 9 contracts:
• AE IDIQ MATOC – Lt. Col Luke Weathers, Jr. VA Medical Center, Memphis, TN
• AE IDIQ MATOC – Tennessee Valley Healthcare System – Nashville and Alvin C. York VA Medical Center, Murfreesboro, TN
With an initial base ordering period of one year, followed by four one-year option periods, the 5-year, $40,000,000 Capacity AE IDIQ MATOC from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) – NCO 9. will help the Department of Veteran’s Affairs continue to provide state-of-the-art facilities to enhance the healthcare of our U.S. Veterans.
“We are proud to provide the Department of Veterans Affairs with an experienced, highly skilled team of technical, responsive, and solution-oriented engineers who are fully dedicated to our client and their mission to support our honored veterans,” said Nicholas Kugler, PE, Above Group’s Founder and CEO.
As Above Group celebrates a decade of excellence, growth, and innovation, we are thrilled to introduce our refreshed brand identity. This new look represents who we are and where we are headed. Built on a legacy of quality and collaboration, our updated visual style boldly reflects our continued commitment to delivering exceptional solutions for our clients.
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Above Group, Inc. Named Honoree for 14th Annual GrowFL Florida Companies to Watch Awards. Press Release.pdf
Melbourne, Florida October 24, 2024 — Above Group, Inc. is proud to announce that it has been selected from over 500 nominees as an honoree for the 14th Annual GrowFL Florida Companies to Watch Award. Now in its fourteenth year, the prestigious awards program recognizes outstanding second-stage companies across the state for their contributions to Florida’s economic landscape. The honorees selected represent a diverse range of industries, all demonstrating impressive growth potential. Above Group, Inc. was recognized for its innovative approaches, strong leadership, and dedication to positively impacting our community and state.
We’re proud to celebrate Above Group’s 10th anniversary! Our founder and president Nicholas Kugler reflects on the journey that’s brought us here and the exciting road ahead.
Above Group, Inc. Named Finalist for 14th Annual GrowFL Florida Companies to Watch Awards.
Orlando, FL – August 26, 2024 – Above Group, Inc. has been selected as a finalist for the prestigious GrowFL Florida Companies to Watch Awards. This program honors high-growth, second-stage companies demonstrating exceptional innovation and potential for future success. Sponsored by Nperspective CFO & Strategic Services and in partnership with the Edward Lowe Foundation, the award recognizes businesses that significantly contribute to Florida’s economic vitality.
Nicholas Kugler, PE, Founder and CEO of Above Group, expressed his gratitude, attributing the achievement to his dedicated team and faith in Jesus Christ. The rigorous selection process narrowed over 500 nominations to a group of finalists who collectively employ more than 3,700 people and generated over $1 billion in revenue last year. The top 50 Honorees will be celebrated at an awards ceremony on February 27, 2025, at Hard Rock Live, Universal CityWalk in Orlando.
The Jamaica Plain Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) in Boston, Massachusetts, undertook a project to modernize its aging radiation therapy suite and expand office space for personnel with a new addition to the building. The primary objectives were to enhance the suite with new ceilings, wall coverings, and flooring; install updated air devices and receptacles; provide a new air-handling unit to meet modern airflow requirements; and minimize disruptions to veterans and staff.
Jamaica Plain VA’s radiation therapy suite is located in the lower levels of the hospital, housing a waiting room, exam room, offices, and a linear accelerator. The linear accelerator had already been upgraded in a separate project by Above Group. The VA sought to improve the existing suite to enhance patient treatment flow. This project constructed 1,600 square feet of new space and renovated 1,700 square feet. Additionally, the project included the design of a new three-ply modified bitumen roof, installation of new card access systems for secure rooms, and integration of these systems into the existing fire alarm network. The access-controlled doors and frames were replaced to ensure egress during emergencies while maintaining security.
The radiation therapy suite is served by an existing 4,000 CFM air handling unit; however, this unit cannot provide additional airflow for the new addition. Part of the new design incorporates a new air handling unit, sized on the latest VA HVAC Design Manual for radiation therapy suites. We embraced the challenge of keeping the existing unit operational for the longest allowable time before tying the new unit into the existing ductwork. The design team worked with the VA and prepared a phasing plan to allow the new unit to be installed and functional before tying it into the existing distribution ductwork.
Working closely with the VA staff, a sequence of work and construction phasing plan was developed that resulted in the least amount of feasible disruption and relocation of Veterans while still maintaining an efficient and cost-effective construction schedule and plan. The construction plan included seven distinct phases, allowing the contractor to work in one or two rooms at a time while allowing patient access to the linear accelerator. Specifically, the construction phasing plan allows the ability to temporarily vacate building areas to support construction while also minimizing infection control risk assessment (ICRA) implications. This phased approach also reduced infection control risks and allowed VA staff to complete maintenance and repair projects in unoccupied spaces.
Another challenge was to align the project scope with the budget while adhering to funding limitations. The budget was reviewed at each design submission, and decisions including phasing, re-use of existing equipment, and phasing options allowed the project to remain under budget for construction. This design-to-budget approach not only brought the project scope and cost into alignment, but also resulted in a significantly less disruptive and intrusive solution for the Veterans and Staff. It also met the needs and intent of the project goals by installing an updated and current-technology system with the availability of parts and services, while improving the functionality of these systems, and also allowed for scope enhancements to be included to address noted system deficiencies, such as improved audibility of the existing paging system with new loudspeakers, signal processing, amplification, and enhanced loudspeaker coverage.
In summary, Above Group, Inc. successfully leveraged its technical expertise and project management skills to collaborate with the Jamaica Plain VAMC in designing a modernized radiation therapy suite that met both the project’s goals and budget. Above all, the project fulfilled the needs of VA staff and Veterans receiving care. Above Group, Inc. is honored to partner with the Department of Veterans Affairs, combining a passion for engineering with a commitment to providing the best possible “care for those who have served in our nation’s military and for their families, caregivers, and survivors”.
Recently, Above Group completed the design for much-needed modernizations to the nurse call systems at the Butler, Pennsylvania Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC). The VA was seeking to replace its existing nurse call system located within the Community Living Center (CLC) Building 20 and CLC Support Building 2, as well as their existing emergency intercom system located within the Domiciliary (DOM) Buildings 21, 22, 23, 24, and 25. The project’s goals were to:
- provide new and updated current-technology systems with readily available parts and services
- improve the functionality of these systems
- minimize disruption to the Veterans and Staff
- incorporate current building codes, Veterans Affairs (VA) standards, and specific Butler VAMC operational requirements
The Butler VAMC experienced recurring difficulty procuring Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) replacement parts and 3rd party OEM support services for their existing obsolete nurse call and emergency intercom systems. This resulted in a challenge for the VA Staff in maintaining consistent and reliable operation of these important systems that are a key component to providing the best possible care for our Veterans. The CLC and DOM Staff user groups also expressed concerns about existing system deficiencies and opportunities for improved system functionality and ease of use. Ryan Gallagher, Butler VA Medical Center’s Healthcare Engineer shared, “The biggest challenges with the existing system was that it was outdated, serviced by a single vendor (JCI), and lacked integration features. This project will provide our clinical nursing team with a quality nurse call and intercom system, enhancing both patient experience and patient safety which are two mission focus areas for our veterans”.
Our team worked closely with the Butler VAMC, user groups, and OEM’s to design new systems for the CLC and DOM buildings. The new Ethernet-based systems address the project’s goals by providing current-technology systems with readily available parts and services, improving the functionality of these systems, and incorporating current building codes and VA standards, including the installation of new system cabling in conduit to comply with survivability requirements for the CLC nurse call system. The new systems are also designed for and capable of supporting future renovations, expansions, or upgrades as needed to accommodate the Butler VAMC’s operational needs.
Above Group project manager, Benjamin Jones identified the predominant challenge as minimizing disruption to the Veterans and Staff during the construction and installation of the new systems. The existing buildings will continue to function during construction, so construction phasing was an important design criterion for the project. Working closely with the VA Staff, a sequence of work and construction phasing plan was developed that resulted in the least amount of feasible disruption and relocation of Veterans while maintaining an efficient and cost-effective construction schedule and plan. Specifically, in the CLC, the construction phasing plan takes advantage of multiple building wings and the ability to temporarily vacate building areas to support construction while minimizing Infection Control Risk Assessment (ICRA) implications. In parallel with construction, the VA Staff also plans to take advantage of vacated spaces to complete facility maintenance and repair projects that are more easily completed in an unoccupied space.
Another notable challenge associated with the project was to align the scope with the budget and adhere to FAR Clause 52.362-22 Design Within Funding Limitations. At the 35% submission, the estimated construction cost was approximately 24% over the budget. During the progression of the design to 50%, Above Group identified an alternate approach for the emergency intercom system in the DOM that centered around re-using existing interbuilding system wiring and implementing analog to IP converters. The cost savings for this alternate approach were estimated and presented to the Butler VAMC for consideration at the 50% submission. After review and concurrence, this alternate approach was implemented into the design for the 75% submission and resulted in an estimated construction cost that was below the budget. Furthermore, this design-to-budget approach not only brought the project scope and cost into alignment, but also resulted in a significantly less disruptive and intrusive solution for the Veterans and Staff in the DOM. It also met the needs and intent of the project goals by installing an updated and current-technology system with the availability of parts and services, while improving the functionality of these systems, and also allowed for scope enhancements to be included to address noted system deficiencies, such as improved audibility of the existing paging system with new loudspeakers, signal processing, amplification, and enhanced loudspeaker coverage.
In summary, Above Group was able to leverage its technical expertise and project management capabilities to partner with the Butler VAMC to design a new nurse call system and emergency intercom system that met the goals and budget of the project, and most importantly, the needs of the VA Staff and Veterans receiving care in the CLC and DOM facilities. Above Group is honored to partner with the VA and combine our passion for Engineering with providing the best possible “care for those who have served in our nation’s military and for their families, caregivers, and survivors”.
As always working with the Above Group team is a pleasant experience as they bring a true team approach to projects. VA Butler looks to be an active player in designs at our campus and Above Group supports this.
Ryan Gallagher
Butler VA Healthcare Engineer
Hear the Above Group team’s perspective on how we achieve the quality of work we do.
Above Group’s CEO Nick Kugler speaks on purpose, heart, team and ministry.
Here are some frequently asked questions
You’ve decided to hire an engineering consulting firm. If you have never hired a consulting firm before or you have a pressing deadline to meet, you may miss out on asking some important questions that are vital to the success of your project. Here are some examples of questions you may find beneficial.
- What does your company offer that others do not?
A. You want to find the consulting agency that is the best fit for your company. Be sure you feel totally comfortable with the agency as they will have a big impact on your companies work.
- What kind of software tools would you typically use for a project like this?
A. Most consultants will have the experience to know what software your project needs, seeing if they have access to software/hardware to solve any problems that may arise is important.
- Has the firm worked on comparable projects successfully?
A. Knowing if the engineering consultant has worked on comparable projects will give some perspective into whether or not the company has the experience to adequately handle your project.
- Who are some of your previous clients?
A. By requesting a list of former and current clients you are able to gauge their level of work, what they can do and what they can handle, and even how successful their previous clients have been.
- How many years of experience does the staff have and what type of engineering degrees do they have?
A. Finding an agency with the level of skill and experience needed for your project is crucial to its success.
3D printing is changing product development and manufacturing
Since 3D printing emerged, it has challenged manufacturing as we know it. 3D printing is changing product development and manufacturing and transforming small businesses, individuals, and corporations into makers. 3D printing has actually been around for quite some time but the progression of technology has made it more affordable for consumers. Thanks to the internet, the materials needed for 3D printing are available to almost anyone. A few of the areas that 3D printing has and will have an impact on our healthcare, aerospace and defense, new products, and mass customization.
3D printing has been around in the healthcare field for a while, it has been used for various items such as dentures and dental work, hearing aids, and prosthetics. With advances in technology, professionals in the medical field are making attempts at printing skin and blood vessels.
As far as aerospace and defense, 3D printing has also been benefiting this field for some time, but the changes to 3D printing will potentially help the military by streamlining the supply chain, especially when in need of items on the battlefield.
Companies will have the ability to make a number of items, custom-made for a specific consumer, like shoes, for example, which will be able to be tailor-made for the owner. Bringing new meaning to the saying, ‘it fits like a glove’.
Undoubtedly, 3D Printing is going to change the manufacturing scene as we know it. The possibilities will be virtually endless.
Here are a few indicators to guide your decision-making process
- Experience is required other than what you and your staff have. Engineering consultants are usually more detail oriented and have a greater focus on aspects of the project that may seem minute. Really question if your impending project can be handled with your experience and knowledge or if it would be helpful to bring in a fresh or more experienced professional. Figuring this out at the beginning of the project will save you time and most likely money as well.
- You need some fresh ideas and creative insight from a new source. A consultant who knows even a little about the way your company operates and accomplishes projects can boost creativity. Even if your company does this type of work on a day-to-day basis, some new perspective can be very beneficial.
- A speedy turnaround is needed and you’re running out of time. You and your team may be completely qualified to complete a project, however, there is an approaching deadline or there is too heavy of a workload on your team. Bringing in outside help in a situation like this is perfect for an engineering consultant because they are routinely hired to compensate for overscheduling or help meet impending deadlines.
