J.E. Dunn Construction's Michael Moore named 2004 Project Manager of the Year

By Melody Finnemore

When Michael Moore is asked to manage a construction project, his plan encompasses not only strategic planning, safety and scheduling but also design elements and other considerations faced by the rest of the project team. Moore's ability to look at a project and see the big picture is why his expertise is so respected within the industry, and the reason he has been named one of the 2004 Project Managers of the Year.

A senior project manager for Portland's J.E. Dunn Construction-Northwest since 1996, Moore currently is overseeing the construction of an $18.5 million Central Computer Facility for the state of Oregon. The Salem facility, due for completion in September, consolidates 12 of the state's smaller data centers into a single-story structure. The 45,000-sq.-ft. center will house several servers, administrative space for 80 people, and all of the mechanical support needed for the computers. Moore said the Central Computer Facility is one of the more challenging projects he has done during his 30-year career.

"Being a design-build, fast-track project means we're doing the work just hours after the design is done. That's why teamwork is so important. We're all going toward one goal, which is a successful project," he said. "Scheduling is key to making a project successful. If you keep a schedule on track the project will get done, and the owner can do the work they need to do and make the money they need to make. It also gives you a chance to see problems ahead of time so they don't come as a surprise too late in the project."

Moore's ability to relate firsthand to project architects helps the process go more smoothly as well. He graduated from the University of Oregon in 1975 with an architecture degree and worked for several years as a designer. From the late '80s to mid-'90s, he served as a project manager for Portland's Koll Construction and OTKM Construction Inc., where he gained experience managing multi-million dollar projects for large clients such as Kaiser Permanente and Oregon Health & Science University. Though it's been many years since Moore worked as an architect, design skills still play a vital role in each project he undertakes.

"It definitely helps me understand the projects because I can look at the drawings and tell what the project architect is trying to do. I understand the pricing and the package and how to make it happen," Moore said. "I also understand what is involved in producing the drawings and the pressure they're under. My work is more complete because I can relate to that side of the field."

Miles Woofter, an associate with Yost Grube Hall Architecture in Portland, said Moore's architecture background has enhanced their collaboration on the Central Computer Facility.

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"Mike's understanding of the process and his appreciation for what it takes to get the design done has been really helpful," Woofter said. "He's been able to keep us on task and he's been fun to work with."

Moore's past projects include a $7 million apartment building in Portland; a $2 million recreation center at the Seven Feathers Casino in Roseburg, Ore.; and a $39 million, 850,000 sq. ft. Wal-Mart distribution center on 110 acres in Grandview, Wash. Moore said a standout for him is The Olympus, a $52 million, GMP apartment project in downtown Seattle. As senior project manager, he oversaw the construction of three towers standing 14 stories each on a full city block. At 511,000 sq. ft., The Olympus houses 327 units and five levels of underground parking. In addition to managing his own project, Moore had to coordinate with the general contractors building on two nearby sites. The three sites were so close together that the contractors had to coordinate their tower cranes to ensure they didn't swing into one another.

"That was probably one of the most successful projects we've had as far as working with the project team and getting it done under budget and on time," Moore said. "We were all friends from day one of the job. We'd go out to dinner and say to each other, 'This is not normal.' All it takes is one personality for things to go wrong. It was smooth from the beginning, and if I have two projects like that in my lifetime I'll be happy."

Ron Schlegel, a superintendent with J.E. Dunn, is part of the team building the Central Computer Facility and has worked with Moore on several projects. He credits Moore's sense of humor and proactive attitude with the success of their endeavors.

"We've been through some tough times when schedules have been thrown at us with 24 hours notice or teams have changed in the middle of a million-square-foot project. No matter how tough it is, we can sit down and laugh about it and then we get to work and make it happen," Schlegel said. "I think a lot of it is Mike's personality. He feels there's not a problem that can't be solved, and that's a great attitude to have."