Complex construction projects can easily go off track without a consistent flow of accurate data between the office and field. Kyle Tomak, virtual design and construction manager at Hensel Phelps, has devoted the past 12 years to developing practical strategies that address the challenges of miscommunication and construction errors head-on. Assisted by end-to-end digital workflows, Hensel Phelps is pushing the boundaries as a leader in digital construction innovation.
Breaking New Ground
In the fast-paced construction industry, coordinating resources is key to maximizing productivity while maintaining high quality standards. Multiple contractors contribute data using different kinds of hardware and software, and all data must be checked for accuracy and quality. “The size and diversity of our projects is always a challenge,” says Tomak. “To expand everyone’s access to data, we have to get rid of data silos and make information easily available in the office as well as in the field.”
Tomak’s guiding philosophy is straightforward: technology should not exist for its own sake, but as a means to avoid rework, prevent accidents and ensure projects are executed correctly from the outset. This approach transforms digital tools from accessories to critical strategic assets in construction management.
At Hensel Phelps, Tomak promotes a field-oriented strategy for technology adoption that goes beyond mere tool implementation. His process centers on applying technologies with genuine purpose, ensuring scalable integration, and developing a comprehensive ecosystem that incorporates digital tools into practical construction workflows.
Tomak advocates for the expanded use of augmented reality (AR) and Building Information Modeling (BIM) to streamline operations throughout Hensel Phelps. He looks for opportunities to apply technology within current tasks for a greater impact. “I am passionate about BIM and AR and expect great advancement over the next five to 10 years as intuitive workflows within the ecosystem allow more people access to the tools,” Tomak says. “We keep expanding our technology knowledge and dialing in our processes and procedures to fully leverage continued improvements in hardware and software.”
A BIM model, cut from level one down and including everything in the ground (shoring, tie-backs, site utilities, duct banks – storm, storm sewer, gas, process pipe), is leveraged by the team in the field. Everything that needs to feed the building and exists below grade is in the model. | Image via Hensel Phelps
By identifying technologies that simplify and advance construction processes, Tomak is transforming how Hensel Phelps approaches complex projects. His strategy focuses on leveraging cloud platforms such as Trimble Connect that create end-to-end digital solutions to enhance communication, reduce errors and improve overall project efficiency. “We collect BIM data on every project regardless of customer requirements,” Tomak explains. “I share best practices and demonstrate when and where to use the technology to improve each part of the process.”
The workflow extends from data collection in the field to data processing and storage in the cloud. Trimble Connect provides the central source of truth for field data, where stakeholders can access all information and collaborate on data-driven decisions. Powerful iPads display constructible models in the field using visualization tools that make job sites safer and more efficient by anticipating conflicts, avoiding utility strikes, and mapping out next steps. Hensel Phelps is committed to educating leadership and adopting emerging technology as it becomes available.
Real World Applications
Hensel Phelps, established in 1937 in Greeley, Colorado, has evolved from a small residential home builder into one of the nation’s largest general contractors. The employee-owned company is known for handling complex projects across various sectors including aviation, healthcare and transportation infrastructure. The high-visibility nature of these projects makes staying on schedule and on budget a priority, and they rely on integrated digital technologies to produce reliable and consistent results.
- The Harbor-UCLA Medical Center Replacement Program demonstrates the practical value of Tomak’s approach. By utilizing the Trimble SiteVision augmented reality system, he enabled the team to precisely map floor removal requirements, visualize spatial constraints in real-time, and perform continuous quality assurance and quality control tracking throughout the construction process.
“AR has value for identifying issues and performing QC in every construction phase, including concrete, MEP, civil utilities and framing elements,” Tomak says. “We use AR on site to validate installed elements and to look ahead to prepare for the next steps.”
Tomak says, “AR has value for identifying issues and performing QC in every construction phase, including concrete, MEP, civil utilities and framing elements. We use AR on site to validate installed elements and to look ahead to prepare for the next steps.”
For improved coordination, Trimble ProjectSight is used to manage cost information, RFIs, daily logs, submittal register, punchlists, and to host/view/interact with project contract drawings and specifications.
- The LAX American Airlines T4/5 Redevelopment Program further illustrates Tomak’s sophisticated digital construction management strategy. By loading design models directly onto field iPads, the team can visualize demolition and utility installation requirements with unprecedented precision using Trimble SiteVision.
The safety verification process was a critical innovation where engineering teams color-coded models in Trimble Connect and pushed them to Sitevision for collaborative validation, ensuring every team member could review and agree on complex construction plans.
“It’s fun to see the switch flip when people are able to visualize the project and easily understand the big picture,” states Tomak. “The ease of use makes them enthusiastic about AR, and everyone wants to use it for their projects.”
Measuring Success
Tomak’s virtual design and construction (VDC) approach integrates BIM, 3D coordination and digital collaboration tools to create detailed virtual representations of project details before and during physical construction. Advanced visualizations enable workers to identify and resolve potential conflicts, track accountability and improve cost control throughout the project, delivering significant benefits.
The Hensel Phelps VDC team is led by the director of VDC and consists of 95 individuals with different roles and responsibilities. During project procurement and kickoff, the Senior VDC Managers develop a BIM execution plan that ensures stakeholders follow a path for optimal success based on the necessary project deliverables. The VDC Managers, Lead VDC Engineers, VDC Engineers and BIM Engineers are responsible for executing that plan throughout the lifecycle of the project. VDC is implemented on every project in some capacity and fully leveraged on larger projects.
The VDC staff handles all technology-related activities at the jobsite, including clash detection using the BIM models, drone use, set-up of Trimble SiteVision, laser scanning, although their background is normally not in technology. In fact, the ideal scenario is when a traditional office/project engineer or area superintendent has strong interest and converts to the VDC department. They have the advantage of experience with the Hensel Phelps field and office workflows.
Overlay showing work installed in the field at the UCSF Barbara and Gerson Bakar Research and Academic Building (BRAB) | Image via Hensel Phelps
Marcela Guevara, VDC manager at Hensel Phelps, has been with the company for 12 years and has successfully applied her field, office and project engineering experience to developing company-wide VDC workflows. “I describe the tools available within the VDC suite as mechanisms that support planning,” explains Guevara, sharing recent examples of the team’s work in San Francisco at the UCSF Barbara and Gerson Bakar Research and Academic Building (BRAB.) “By introducing a common language, teams communicate more effectively and build upon the diverse range of experience and skills that each individual brings to the job.”
“Our industry is rooted in the physical elements we create and tools like Trimble SiteVision—a user-friendly component—help establish this common language,” Guevara says. “VDC technology allows everyone on the job to visually understand what is planned and what has been installed.”
The Hensel Phelps culture empowers employees to take leadership roles through their careers and offers extensive training opportunities. The entire staff is encouraged to leverage the VDC tools, including the field, safety and quality control departments. Onsite training is done by VDC personnel for each project. “In some cases, I provide training on a regional level to get more people trained at once,” says Tomak. “The best way to do this is in the field rather than watching a training video.”
A commitment to training ensures that this technology does not solely live within the VDC department. “Although these tools may seem intimidating at first, they create valuable opportunities for collaboration when used on-site,” Guevara adds. “Bridging the gap between design intent and the work being executed in the field positively impacts our projects.”
The implementation of advanced digital tools at Hensel Phelps has resulted in an increased number of Trimble Connect licenses and hundreds of Trimble SiteVision licenses, integration of VDC language into operational protocols, and enhanced safety procedures. Perhaps most important, adoption of this strategic technology has had a positive impact on the company’s insurance rates due to improved risk scores.
“VDC technology is helping reduce rework, which is where accidents tend to occur. With less rework we maintain a safer jobsite,” says Tomak. “I think our staff is appreciative of the fact we can leverage more information out in the field, where it matters most, to support a ‘do it right the first time approach.’”
Overlay showing work installed in the field at the UCSF Barbara and Gerson Bakar Research and Academic Building (BRAB) | Image via Hensel Phelps
Hensel Phelps has received multiple national and local safety awards. For several years in a row, Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) has presented Hensel Phelps with a National Safety Pinnacle Award to acknowledge its dedication to safety and health at all levels of construction. As further recognition, the Associated General Contractors (AGC) of America awarded Hensel Phelps the grand prize at the 2025 Construction Safety Excellence Award (CSEA) Ceremony, an honor that reflects a commitment to safety, health management, and risk control.
The firm also received a Trimble Construction Innovation Award in 2024 for developing processes that connect data, improving transparency and accessibility for key project stakeholders. Trimble Connect serves as a central data integration point, allowing seamless communication and collaboration. The technological transformation supported by dedicated VDC professionals boosts the company’s reputation as a trusted contractor capable of coordinating complex systems integration, maintaining ambitious schedules and ensuring quality control across massive infrastructure projects.
Blueprint for Integration
A thoughtful approach to technology implementation focuses on identifying clear operational challenges that technology can solve, prioritizing user experience and workflow simplification, and investing in comprehensive training and supportive technology introduction.
Ultimately, the Hensel Phelps approach offers a pragmatic model for construction managers navigating the complex landscape of technological integration. By focusing on incremental changes, user-centric design and comprehensive ecosystem integration, technological adoption becomes a strategic advantage that can fundamentally reshape how construction projects are conceived, planned and executed.
By Linda Duffy at Geo Week News. For videos and photos, please visit their webpage.