Weitz Industrial recognized at 2025 ABC MN/ND Excellence in Construction (EIC) Banquet. February 19, 2026 / Blog The Weitz Company is proud to announce that the DSM-Firmenich Petfood Premix Facility has been recognized at the 2025 Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) Minnesota & North Dakota Excellence in Construction (EIC) Banquet. The project received the Pyramid Award in the Industrial Construction - Over $20 Million category. The ABC MN/ND EIC program celebrates exceptional construction achievements delivered by member contractors across the region. Winners from the regional program advance to national consideration. The ABC Excellence in Construction Awards Gala will honor the country's most innovative and high-quality projects on Thursday, March 19, 2026, in Salt Lake City, Utah. The 70,000-square-foot "next generation" petfood premix and vitamin trace mineral (VTM) facility features advanced robotics, automation, and containerized ingredient-handling technologies, replacing traditional equipment used in the petfood industry. These innovations position the facility as the most technologically advanced premix plant for both DSM-Firmenich and the broader petfood premix market. Systems throughout the facility automate ingredient receiving, micro-batching, blending, conveying, and packaging. Operator safety was a priority in the facility's design. Clear work zones, dedicated visitor pathways, and strategically planned tour routes enhance both safety and user experience. Given the significant robotic and automated equipment in motion, machine guarding and safety fencing were carefully engineered to protect operators while maintaining accessibility for maintenance. In addition to the Pyramid Award, its team was also recognized with the STEP Safety Management System Platinum award. Reflecting its company's ongoing commitment to safety. Weitz Professional Services, LLC (WPS), Weitz's internal design and engineering group, provided overall plant layout, process design, and fugitive particle matter recovery systems. WPS also developed and managed the master equipment list. Additionally, they coordinated the engineering efforts of multiple design-build trade partners to ensure seamless integration across all disciplines. Congratulations to the project team for an excellent job.

Celebrating A legacy of leadership and innovation at Weitz with Larry Graeve. After 32 remarkable years at The Weitz Company, Larry Graeve, Senior Vice President of Preconstruction, will be retiring at the end of the year. With over four decades of experience in the construction industry, Larry leaves behind a legacy of projects defined by expertise, innovation, and unwavering dedication worth celebrating. Larry's journey at Weitz has been nothing short of extraordinary. Over the years, he has played a pivotal role in shaping the company's preconstruction and estimating services, particularly within the Senior Living market. His leadership has guided the planning and execution of some of the most complex and high-value senior living communities across the country, from Sagewood in Phoenix, Arizona to Oak Hammock in Gainesville, Florida. His deep understanding of cost control, budgeting, and constructability reviews has consistently delivered value to clients and partners alike. "Larry Graeve has been more than a colleague, he's been a trusted advisor, a teacher, and a friend. His passion for Lean Construction and Sustainability wasn't just about improving processes; it was about building smarter, more thoughtful communities. His work has touched lives in ways that go far beyond the jobsite," said Mike Grever, General Manager for Commercial | The Weitz Company. Known for his calm demeanor, sharp insight, and unwavering commitment to doing things the right way. Larry's influence reaches well beyond Weitz. He's shared his knowledge generously through speaking engagements and publications, always eager to help others grow. His database of cost and programming information has become a go-to resource for architects and developers nationwide and stands as a testament to his forward-thinking approach and dedication to excellence. His retirement marks the end of an era, but his impact will be felt for decades to come. As Larry prepares for this next chapter, Weitz Company celebrate his incredible career and thank him for the legacy he leaves behind. Congratulations, Larry, and best wishes for a well-earned retirement!

The Weitz Company announces Andy Gardner as Vice President. Gardner's promotion reflects The Weitz Company's commitment to leadership excellence and strategic growth across their Iowa Commercial and Mission Critical sectors. (Des Moines, IA) - The Weitz Company is pleased to announce the promotion of Andy Gardner to Vice President overseeing preconstruction efforts for the company's Iowa Commercial and Mission Critical divisions. He will assume this new role in conjunction with his title as Preconstruction Director. In this new role, Gardner will continue to lead project teams throughout both divisions sharing his knowledge and expertise with teams across the company. Gardner has been with The Weitz Company for 25 years and has led preconstruction strategy of many notable projects like the Iowa Events Center, Prairie Meadows Casino, and QTS Data Center in Cedar Rapids. While the majority of his career he led preconstruction efforts with the Iowa Commercial team, he recently added leadership of Mission Critical preconstruction to his scope of work making him responsible for leadership of over $2.8B worth of national data center construction work and growing. "Andy's leadership experience and expanded scope of work mark the start of another great chapter in his remarkable career," said Kevin McClain, CEO & President of The Weitz Company. "We are thrilled to see him continue to contribute to the success of the company and bring his extensive expertise to commercial and data center clients around the country." Gardner's promotion reflects his outstanding leadership and contributions to some of The Weitz Company's most notable projects. As he steps into this new role, his continued leadership will play a valuable part in strengthening the company's success and growth for the future. About The Weitz Company Founded in 1855, The Weitz Company, a subsidiary of Orascom Construction PLC, is a full-service construction company, general contractor, design builder, and construction manager that serves all 50 U.S. states. Weitz is one of the oldest general contractors in the United States and an industry leader in Aviation construction, Industrial construction, Mission Critical construction, and Commercial construction. Acquired in 2012, Weitz leverages Orascom Construction's international expertise on large-scale, complex infrastructure projects to deliver premier results to clients across the United States. Headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa, The Weitz Company annually ranks in the top tier of Engineering News-Record (ENR) magazine's Top 400 Contractors and Building Design+Construction's Giants 300 Contractors lists. You can read more about The Weitz Company at https://www.weitz.com/.