Helix Electric by North American Constructors Journal

Helix Electric |

Helix Electric:

Helix Electric Leads Through Innovation and Positive Work Environment

Helix Electric, one of the largest electrical contracting companies in the nation, offers pre-construction, BIM/ engineering, project management, design/build, and prefabrication services for multiple sectors. Written by Leslie Blaize Produced by Stephen Marino

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elix Electric, a non-union/ merit shop established in 1985, specializes in designbuild and highly complex electrical projects. It’s one of the largest electrical contracting companies in the nation. Victor Fuchs, president & managing partner of Helix Electric of Nevada, approaches business operations as a marathon runner. “We’re constantly looking for a better way to do things,” he says. “You may be winning the race, but that doesn’t mean you’re going to end up that way. There’s somebody right behind you.” Fuchs says Helix continually seeks the best methods and people to deliver exceptional services to maintain its reputation as a frontrunner. Helix offers pre-construction, BIM/ engineering, project management, design/build, and prefabrication services across the full spectrum of sectors. They include: • • • • • • • • •

Commercial and Retail Education Government and Military Healthcare and Biotech Hospitality and Entertainment Industrial Multi-family and Residential Renewable Energy Transportation

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Helix Electric |

There’s no secret formula for delivering consistent and powerful results. Helix builds strong relationships with clients based on honesty, trust, and reliability. The company is known for its tenacity, diverse experience with different types of jobs, and reputation for completing projects. Partners appreciate the company’s financial strength and bonding capacity. Helix President Boris Shekhter oversees the company’s headquarters in San Diego, California. The company generates approximately $800 million annual revenue and employs more than 3,000 across the United States. Fuchs runs the company’s Nevada operation with a workforce of approximately 600 employees. They work out of offices in Las Vegas, Reno, Nevada, and Salt Lake City, Utah, generating $180 in annual revenue. As a non-union electrical contractor, Fuchs opposes Project Labor Agreements that require unionization. He believes PLA results in high project costs.

“We’re constantly looking for a be be winning the race, but that doe up that way. There’s some - Victor Fuchs, Presiden

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Promoting Safety

big deal,” he emphasizes.

The company puts significant emphasis on safety. Fuchs says, “We’re very much into preventive measures, and we also do a lot of education.”

Key Projects

He adds, “We have zero accident tolerance.” To achieve its safety goals, three safety professionals visit job sites on an ongoing basis. They come as educators and provide job crews with the tools they need to keep the sites safe. They also share experiences from other jobs that may be useful. As part of the process, the safety professionals use a strict scoring system. If a report falls below 80 percent, it’s delivered to Fuchs’s desk. “We discuss what could have been done differently,” Fuchs says.

Meow Wolf Las Vegas - Prepare to be amazed at Meow Wolf’s Omega Mart in Las Vegas. It is one of the firm’s most unique and interesting projects. The Omega Mart merges art with technology to create an immersive experience for visitors. The one-of-a-kind experience relies heavily on complex lighting and powering the countless interactive features throughout the exhibit. Auric Symphony Park, Las Vegas - Auric Symphony Park is the first residential component within Victor Fuchs

If it’s determined that someone doesn’t have a safety mindset, they may not be the right person for the job. The danger is that an individual could hurt either themselves or others. “Safety is a

better way to do things. You may esn’t mean you’re going to end ebody right behind you.” nt & Managing Partner www.helixelectric.com

Helix Electric |

Helix Electric and specialty contractors across the globe partner with Autodesk Construction Cloud. The world’s leading MEP contractors rely on Autodesk Construction Cloud to drive company profitability by connecting data across the project lifecycle, ensuring quality installation in the field, and reducing risk as they deliver more complex projects, faster.

Scan the QR code or click here to learn more

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Helix Electric |

Empowering a Data-First Approach for Electrical Contractors

It’s more than being a technology provider, it’s about being your technology partner. These days, you can’t go onto a jobsite or office without seeing construction technology. Connecting project teams in the cloud is no longer a nice-to-have, it’s a necessity. Field collaboration has become table stakes. Electrical contractors like Helix are moving beyond simply connecting people and projects, to equipping individuals and teams with insights to help them get the job done more effectively and efficiently. Over the last two years many electrical contractors have evolved how they operate—using digital tools and technologies to collect and track project information. However, many lack consistent and reliable processes for collecting and documenting the data produced by their technology applications, impacting their ability to analyze and identify issues that could improve processes. According to a recent global report between Autodesk and FMI, only 27% of specialty contractors stated that they regularly review data at a set interval for quality purposes, and only 24% said they have established data reporting and monitoring practices. These stats make sense since only 26% of specialty contractors said they manage/keep their project data in a common data environment, like Autodesk Docs part of the Autodesk Construction Cloud. So, while we see specialty contractors using technology, there is ample room for improvement when it comes to establishing standards and processes to manage and analyze data . As a technology company, we see these challenges every day. This is why we work with contractors across the globe, enabling them with the right processes and workflows that meet business and project goals. But more importantly, we work to ensure the data from these workflows is being captured in the right way, so that it can be used to provide insights for continued improvements. This is our goal, our mission: To make our customers successful and make our technology work for them. For over 10 years, Autodesk has worked with Helix Electric, striving to be more than just your technology provider. We’re here to be your technology partner. We do this by understanding your business and workflow needs and creating plans that focus on empowerment and adoption—all backed by Autodesk Construction Cloud technology that enables real-time collaboration and connection between the field and the office, and access to meaningful data. At Helix, we know you’re not just waiting for progress, you’re building it. And Autodesk is here, as your trusted partner, to help you along this journey. To learn more about what Autodesk Construction Cloud can do for your projects scan the QR code or visit autodesk

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Las Vegas’ visionary Symphony Park development. This luxury apartment complex includes 324 units and approximately 14,500 square feet of retail and restaurants. #TeamHelix and Martin-Harris Construction are excited to build the next great living experience at Auric Park with a resort-style pool, resident lounge, fitness center and business center. The facility will include numerous upscale services, including concierge-level support, entertainment, social events, and cultural experiences for residents. Creech Air Force Base, Indian Springs, NV - Creech AFB serves as the vibrant main operating

base of the 432d Wing and 432d Air Expeditionary Wing. With a 3,000-strong workforce, it sustains around-the-clock overseas contingency operations against global terrorism. This design-build project provides site improvements, electrical infrastructure, backup generator, and other necessary support for a complete and useable Ground Control Station Building and Command Center Facility. Cobalt Cheyenne Data Center Cobalt Cheyenne is a 34,000-sq.ft. facility backed by 5.5 megawatts of critical power. The Tier III data center is designed for concurrent operation and

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maintainable site infrastructure. Hill Air Force Base Ogden Generator System Upgrade Building 891, Hill AFB, Utah This project includes upgrades to the existing generator system at Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) Defense Enterprise Computing Center (DECC) Ogden Building 891. The electrical scope of this project includes the replacement of three existing 1250kW 12kV generators with four new 2000kW 12kV generators. It also called for replacing the existing paralleling switchgear with www.helixelectric.com

new 12kV paralleling gear and new 12kV utility switchgear in two new enclosures. A new 2500kW load bank also was added.

Attracting Top Employees Helix works hard at creating a positive work environment for employees. “Our benefits are probably the best in the industry,” says Fuchs. The company matches 32 cents for every dollar that people save, up to the maximum allowed by law. That means if an employee saves

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$16,000, Helix will match it with a contribution of more than $5,000. Fuchs says Helix helps employees build up their savings for retirement or other big goals, like putting their children through college. Before Covid-19 restrictions, Helix also invited employees and their significant others to holiday parties. They also planned picnics for families. “We consider ourselves a family – a big family – but still a family,” he says. Other yearly events included Management Retreats, which may be conducted again in 2022. “We want to make sure that our people are excited about coming to work,” says Fuchs. “I really don’t want people just to come here because of a paycheck.” These workplace initiatives must be having a positive impact. A recent client who toured one of Helix’s offices commented on how many

smiling faces he saw. Apparently, the client doesn’t always see happy employees at the workplaces he visits.

Leading a Winning Team As the president of Helix Electric of Nevada, Fuchs serves as the head coach of a successful operation. In his role, Fuchs says he’s not just

“We want to make sure that our people are excited about coming to work. I really don’t want people just to come here because of a paycheck.” - Victor Fuchs, President & Managing Partner www.helixelectric.com

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number of vendors who have proven their worth. Fuchs wants to make sure that one of Helix’s partners won’t let them down. “We work with a core group of companies over and over again,” he says.

Providing Exceptional Service Helix seeks continual communication with clients to provide an exceptional construction experience. The company surveys clients through its survey program when jobs are half done and then at completion. The survey consists of seven questions. responsible for the 600 people who work for the company. He also considers the number of people in each related household, which increases that base number. “Every morning, I wake up thinking that I’m responsible for 2,100 lives.” As president, Fuchs said his job is “exciting and fulfilling.”

“We help Helix outshine the competition.”

WHY We ’ re Different More than any LED, we love seeing our clients light up. Because technology comes and goes but the connections we develop and the relationships we build will stand the test of time. Real World Product Focus•Factory-Direct Model•Full In-House Support Future-Proof Lighting•Layers of Protection

Helix believes in educating employees and reports that the company invested $550,000 for educational expenses.

Helix Vets Partners The company works with a limited

CAPABILITIES & SERVICES • Lighting design and photometrics to support new construction and retrofit projects • Alternate-Equal packages to meet existing spec packages at aggressive price points • Product customizations, including turnkey product design • Warehouse and logistics services to support multi-site project roll-outs • Unique warranty and financing programs

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“We ask our clients to speak up and tell us if there’s something we need to improve,” says Fuchs. In addition, Helix asks every customer for a letter of recommendation. “When people don’t write a letter of recommendation, that’s probably a sign that something went wrong,” he adds. There’s a small minority who don’t believe in submitting recommendations or may not care to write one. However, most clients are glad to recommend the company. Then once the company gets a recommendation, it’s read in front of an employee’s peers.

In addition, Fuchs thanks the employees for their efforts.

Advancing the Electrical Industry The electrical construction industry continues to captivate Fuchs. He wants to do his best to serve his team and create a great work environment, and he also likes the challenge of providing outstanding services. “I like to see how we can bring the customer value, outsmart the competition, and deliver the best service for a competitive price,” he says.