Empowering You to Make Informed Decisions
Preconstruction + Design Phase Management
Every project, no matter its size, starts with a dream. And bringing your vision to life can seem like hard work. We know construction is complex. It can be easy to get overwhelmed by things like budgeting, scheduling, material selection, and risk assessment. However, these steps of the design phase are crucial to the overall end goal of a project.
That’s where we come in.
Knutson’s early involvement in your project takes the guesswork out of tough decisions even before shovels hit the ground. We pride ourselves in being a dedicated partner to you throughout the entire life of the project, not just the beginning. Your dream becomes ours the moment we first connect.
Expertise + Expectations
To ensure your success, we are proactive in our approach to build something incredible, together. Laying a solid foundation for your project begins with simple conversation in the beginning, because we desire to get to know you and your passions. We want to know the what, why, and when of your dream, because that context allows us to expertly contribute the how. Understanding your concept of success isn’t just our goal; it’s pivotal to ensuring your vision comes to life accurately.
After exploring these ideas, our team will develop a detailed roadmap that lays out how to best make your dream a reality. As we discuss the most efficient and effective ways to reach your end goal, we will also lay out realistic expectations to help ground you in your decision making in all stages of your project, because we are true partners from conception to completion. Your success is our shared success.
Master Planning
Knutson Construction takes a methodical approach to project development, merging your current and future facility needs into a comprehensive plan. Our team offers guidance to help you understand all of your options—and make the right choices for your construction journey.
Using conceptual modeling, real-time estimating and other solutions, our experienced team of collaborators walk you through all of your building options and what they mean. From disruption avoidance to scheduling and phasing, Knutson delivers the best game plan for your building project.
A Blueprint for Success
The needs of your organization are completely unique. That’s why we start each project by listening to your goals—and exploring both long- and short-term options to meet them. Our team offers in-depth planning for programming, phasing, budget and timeline, as well as minimizing disruption.
At Knutson, we have decades of experience analyzing feasibility and budgeting to ensure financial confidence for clients. Our team also provides construction modeling to help you visualize and understand each step of your project’s journey—bringing assurance and transparency to the plans we create together.
Contact Us
Want to learn more about how Knutson Construction can empower you to make informed decisions on your upcoming project or dream to make it more than just a dream? Contact our staff at any one of our locations and we can provide you with more details.
Meet Our Preconstruction Team
We believe that a collaborative approach to construction is best, and we're committed to minimizing both the unknowns and costly surprises along every step of your journey. Meet the problem-solvers that make up our preconstruction team - they're the ones who will be helping you make your dream a reality.
Micah Vainikka
Competitive by nature, Micah enjoys the thrill of exploring and winning new projects, strategizing, and collaborating with other people, as well as leading a high-performing and incredibly supportive team. He is a true relationship-builder and highly dedicated to the success of his team and project partners. Since joining Knutson in 2013, Micah has touched all market sectors in his role, but boasts substantial experience with healthcare and life science projects. He is also a LEED Green Associate, with a vested interest in sustainability and green building principles.
Nate Day
Since joining the team in 2022, Nate has enjoyed how exciting it is to work with clients when everyone is eager to make their dreams come to fruition. He has 20 years of industry experience, ten years of which have been heavily focused on design/build project management; with this experience, he approaches every project with design and construction being a unified front. Nate enjoys working on projects related to sustainability, building envelope, and mechanical and electrical systems, but also appreciates how each project is different in terms of intensity and variety. Since 2012, Nate has been an advocate for careers in construction, heavily involving himself with the ACE Mentor Program of the Twin Cities.
Tim Kuechle
With double digit industry experience and significant expertise in self-perform work, Tim is an incredible asset to Knutson’s preconstruction team. Due to his calm demeanor, team-oriented nature, and steadfast dedication to solving problems, Tim excels at complex projects and is able to provide solutions that benefits all parties. Tim has extensive experience with healthcare and hard bid projects, making him an invaluable associate for project teams looking to work with an industry professional who can bring unique perspectives to their project from the get-go. Tim joined Knutson’s team in 2019 and most enjoys being part of a collaborative team that can overcome any obstacle or problem with its supportive culture.
Austin Gapinski
With nearly ten years of previous industry experience, Austin joined Knutson in 2023. Preferring to get down to the details on structural and enclosure systems, he also has substantial experience with self-perform carpentry, making him a well-rounded asset for the Minneapolis preconstruction team. Austin’s favorite part of his job is collaborating with a variety of people who all bring different levels of experience and areas of expertise to the table to solve problems, and enjoys utilizing statistical and mathematic tools like spreadsheets to do that.
Houston Walsh
Houston joined Knutson in 2022, a soft-spoken and forward-thinking addition to the Minneapolis preconstruction team with over seven years of previous industry experience. Primarily focused on estimating and the technological side of preconstruction, Houston works to leverage these aspects to benefit both Knutson and our project partners’ needs. He most enjoys the innovative part of his job and believes that utilizing new and emerging technology builds a strong foundation and future for the projects he assists with.
Maggie Nelson
Maggie joined Knutson Construction in January 2024 and brings three years of industry experience. With a background in mechanical engineering from the University of Minnesota, Maggie supports preconstruction efforts, primarily focusing on early-phase projects, including the Fairview Pharmacy. She enjoys collaborating with design teams to find creative solutions that balance goals and budgets, like solving a complex puzzle. Maggie is excited to continue growing her impact on the team!
Bryan Jellinger
Bryan joined Knutson in January 2024 as an Estimator II, bringing 15 years of experience, primarily in unitized curtain wall systems. He supports the Operations and Business Development teams, focusing on healthcare projects like those at the Mayo Clinic. A graduate of Minnesota State, Mankato with a degree in Construction Management, he enjoys building strong relationships with clients and trade partners. Outside of work, he loves spending time outdoors,bow hunting, fishing, gardening, and enjoying lake days with his wife and three kids.
Jordan Cepress
A relationship-builder by nature, Jordan has been part of Knutson’s team since 2016. He most enjoys getting to know owners and their reason for taking on projects, utilizing that context to assist them in making their dreams a reality. He is steadfast in his dedication to being a true partner from the initial concept of a project through design and construction, ensuring the process is as smooth as possible throughout. Jordan has vast experience in healthcare, K-12 education, government, industrial / manufacturing, sports and recreation, and commercial / retail, and is a valued part of the Rochester team. Jordan also assists with Iowa projects that fall within his many areas of expertise.
Michael Ganrude
A member of Team Blue since 2023, Mike brought over 18 years of industry experience to Rochester’s preconstruction team when he initially joined on as an Estimator. His favorite part of the job is relationship-building with clients, contractors, and coworkers, something he knows makes all the difference in the lasting success of a project. Mike has extensive experience in the healthcare industry, working closely with large profile clients to accurately construct budgets for a myriad of facilities including hospitals, medical centers, outpatient clinics, and more. He is dedicated to ensuring the best possible price for clients, while also maintaining transparency and cohesion through the project’s process.
Delbert Feenstra
Delbert boasts over 26 years of construction estimating experience, a member of the Knutson preconstruction team since 2007. This experience brings with it a wide breadth of knowledge, invaluable subcontractor relationships, and enhanced situational awareness that would be welcomed guiding expertise for any project team looking to build something bigger, together. Delbert is a firm believer that a collaborative team-based environment creates an enjoyable construction experience for all parties and works diligently with project teams to develop and maintain project budgets throughout the lifespan of the project at hand. His primary focuses are within healthcare and K-12 education markets, but he also has enhanced knowledge of structural concrete projects and is certified to implement Best Value Bidding. His ability to continually bring projects within their established budgets (or, in most cases, below) speaks for itself and is just one of the reasons he is a highly valued part of Knutson’s team.
Anthony Johnson
Anthony is a firm believer that through a collaborative team-based environment we can create an enjoyable construction process while building long-term relationships. His experience working on several similar projects will ensure your project goals are met. His dedication and attention to detail make him an exceptional problem solver and a key team member; he will be able to quickly turn around updated pricing throughout the design development phase, notifying key team members of any budgetary issues that may arise. Throughout preconstruction, Anthony will assist in the development and maintenance of the project budget. He will provide input on value engineering options as the design evolves and will work to ensure this project achieves your goals, while utilizing proven constructability standards and new innovative ideas.
"A HUGE THANKS to your team for being so proactive in the Preconstruction phase! Other contractors, who don’t keep a constant pulse on budgets like your team does, frustrate me a lot. Thanks for raising the bar."
Bruce Larson, A.I.A., Principal
BWBR
Featured Projects & Achievements
Knutson provides preconstruction services for a wide range of markets, including healthcare, education, hospitality, and housing. These solutions enable more proactive planning across every step of the building process, eliminating risks and optimizing costs along the way. Explore our industries to learn more about the many clients we support—and how we took their dreams from concept to reality with fewer surprises.