Introducing our newest construction cartoons

Too close for comfort

We actually saw this in a construction drawing, though technically it was not an "error," we felt that perhaps the placement of the urinals should be reconsidered.

Dude, What's Up?

This cartoon was inspired from a construction drawing that called for a heavy HVAC unit to be placed on the roof without enough structural support to hold the weight.

To see these cartoons and more construction humor visit Blueprint Bluepers.

Stress Management: The Nigro Firm Goes Fishing

Recently, on a local radio station we heard an ad for fishing licenses. Our first reaction was, "What?! They have to advertise to sell the opportunity to go fishing?" Obviously... fewer people are fishing than used to! Are people taking less time to relax?

There are many ways to reduce stress. One way is through rest and relaxation, which many find in knee waiters in the middle of a cold, rocky stream with a pole in hand, even when not a single fish bites.

We at the Nigro Firm believe that hobbies, vacations, days off and even just a simple belly laugh are good ways to reduce stress. Lower stress levels help our team be more productive, work more cooperatively, and more creatively.

You don't have to go fishing to relax. "Gone Fishing" can be more of a metaphor to represent all forms of recreation or to simply indicate that you need to just take a break. So, next time you are stressed and wish you could just get away, put up a "gone fishing" sign on your office door and just take a few minutes to clear your mind. Often just ten minutes of meditation or relaxation can save an hour of stressful time wasting.

Print out your free "gone fishing" door hanger.

The internet is loaded with lists of ways to reduce stress, here are just a few:

101 Ways to Reduce Stress
52 Proven Stress Reducers
25 Ways to Cut Stress in Your Life
10 Ways to Reduce Stress at Work
3 Ways to Reduce Stress

However, if all else fails GO FISHING! Are at least go find a river to sit next to, it will do you good.

Introducing the Nigro Firm’s Complimentary Evaluations

Acquire foresight and first hand experience for FREE.

Imagining potential loss is difficult, if not impossible. However, we are offering you a way to capture a glimpse of the cost saving possibilities that you can obtain from a construction document coordination review.

Frequently, people ask us an important and relevant question, “What kind of savings can be achieved in both time and money on the project to justify the additional expenses of a coordination review?” It is a good question. However, understanding the answer requires a bit of imagination and vision.

Can you visualize the road not taken?

Imagine this situation as a quick analogy. You are standing on the curb of busy street. As a bus approaches, the man standing next to you, for an unknown reason, starts to step in front of the bus. You grab him by the shirt and pull him back to safety. He turns to you and says, “Wow. Thanks, I really appreciate your help. How much pain, suffering, money, time and hassle did you just save me?” Your answer is, “I have no idea. But I imagine it would have been a lot. What would have been the accumulated loss if you had stepped in front of the bus?”

We can’t quantify the savings that a coordination review provided since we can’t go back in time and redo the construction process without the review. It all boils down to foresight. Or the ability to understand that finding mistakes on paper is cheaper and faster to fix than mistakes discovered in the field. And then belief that the review fee is minuscule compared to the impact of errors discovered after ground breaking.

Curious as to what we can do for your next project?

We understand that visualizing the positive impact of a review is difficult, so through the end of this year, we are offering a complimentary evaluation of a small project of your choice so you can get a feel for what we do. Truly, the only way to fully understand our service is to experience it.

For more information, visit:
Nigro Firm Complimentary Evaluation

Coordination Errors Don’t Have to be a Daily Occurrence

Would you invest $1 to get $7 back?

Of course you would.

Just because it has “always been that way” does not mean it always has to stay that way. The ROI of a coordination review is solid; however, we have found that many in the industry still need a little convincing.

We run into an extremely interesting phenomenon when we explain to people what we do.

To many the benefits of a coordination review are obvious.

People who are not in the construction industry “get it” right away. They immediately see the value of catching mistakes on paper instead of in the middle of the construction process. It’s obvious and logical to them and fits the old adage that “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”

People in the industry are used to dealing with coordination errors.

When we tell people, who are in the construction industry, how we can help them, they often have a “yes, but…” response. Although people don’t like dealing with the costs, delays, and hassles involved with errors, omissions, variances and inconsistencies in the drawings and specs, they have a feeling that “it’s just the way things are” and that they have to put up with it.

What prevents some from understanding the benefit of a coordination review?

Often people think of their established protocols, methods, systems, bureaucracies, etc. that do not take advantage of a construction document coordination review. The conventional methods are typically the only ones considered, even though the system is not perfect, it is familiar. Of course, changing the process is not an easy task, especially when multiple parties and a large investment are involved. But it is worth the effort.

The advantages of a construction document coordination review.

Reviews performed by independent third-party reviewers are affordable and an extremely efficient way to reduce risk. They improve bid accuracy, help you meet deadlines and position each job for greater overall success.



How much money can be saved?

Benchmark studies have shown that per $1 spent on a construction document coordination review, between $7 and $30 are saved in averted change orders and cost overruns. This is an excellent return on investment (ROI).

Who commissions reviews?

The people who use our services are people with foresight. They are leaders in the industry who are innovative, organized, and efficient. They are experienced and competent.

Customized reviews for each project.

The Nigro Firm, Inc. realizes that each company has unique systems, projects, and needs… requiring our coordination reviews to be customized for each project’s budget, schedule, and areas of concern.

For more information, see:
Nigro Firm Custom Reviews & Fees

Featured Construction Project: The Galveston National Laboratory

When construction document quality is critically necessary - you can count on us.

It can stand strong through hurricanes, it can contain highly dangerous infectious agents, and has some of the most sophisticated security protocols imagined. What building is it? The Galveston National Laboratory (GNL) or the National Biocontainment Laboratory. The building should be completed this month.


The GNL has to be Perfect

This facility can be nothing less than perfect. When it comes to containing agents like anthrax, Lassa fever, dengue fever and Ebola there is no room for structural error. The Nigro Firm reviewed sections of this lab in 2006 and found the project extremely interesting and particularly unique.

The Nigro Firm’s experience reviewing GNL

Our experience reviewing GNL was incredibly fascinating.

Many things that would not normally be a big deal in typical construction projects were fatally important for this research lab. For example, the pipe sleeve locations between the concrete floors had to exactly match the locations of the plumbing fixtures, decontamination showers, lab equipment, etc. To prevent micro-cracks and possible hiding places for microbes, holes could not be drilled through the concrete after it was poured. In addition, the building’s special systems such as the decontamination shower system were extremely interesting and required the design of a special custom review.

Who funded the construction of the GNL?

The GNL was primarily funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases/National Institutes of Health (NIAID/NIH). This organization was formed after the 2001 post office anthrax attacks and helped fund GNL as well as one other National Biocontainment Laboratory and Regional Centers of Excellence (RCEs) to research hazardous biological agents.

GNL Specs

The GNL is nearly a 170 million dollar project which, when complete, will include 174,000 gross square feet. Construction began in May of 2005. University of Texas Medical Branch will possess and operate the GNL in support of the biodefense research agenda of NIAID.

How do other projects compare to the GNL?

Most buildings are not responsible for containing NIAID Category A, B and C priority pathogens such as typhus fever, West Nile virus, yellow fever and Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus. However, all projects have access to the quality review services provided by companies like the Nigro Firm to help ensure that their buildings are top notch.

Interested in other projects reviewed by the Nigro Firm, see our Abbreviated Project List.