About 15 months ago, KLH Engineers, a national MEP and technology engineering firm based in Kentucky, spun off Levcon Analytics, which uses data to provide AEC firms with design, construction, and operations advice. By uniting design and building teams, Levcon’s Convergit data integration platform also improves a building owner’s asset management and project execution.
Late last month, KLH spun off another entity. Known as Configure, the now-separate business has been developing a construction marketplace that digitizes supply and makes it easier for designers and contractors to specify, compare, and purchase engineered-to-order products from manufacturers. Configure’s platform is accessible through web apps or Autodesk Revit plug-ins.
PRICING PRODUCTS, MADE SIMPLER
Its conception was born out of the frustration of trying to specify equipment with pricing information being immediately at hand, explains Michael Albanese, a principal with KLH Engineers who, with principal Jeff Leuderalbert, came up with Configure and developed its platform.
Leuderalbert elaborates that during a project’s design phase, suppliers communicate with potential customers within their Revit models, and designers can link products, product data and pricing directly into their models. During pre-construction, Configure matches contractors with local suppliers so they can solicit and compare bids in one platform, and select the package that best fits their project and budget.
Some of Configure’s early customers include Tweet/Garot Mechanical, Green Bay, Wis.; Silicon Valley Mechanical, San Jose, Calif.; and Peck Hannaford + Briggs, Cincinnati, Ohio.
SUPPORTERS FROM INSIDE AND OUT
During Configure’s early development, KLH allowed Albanese and Leuderalbert to leverage the firm’s in-house software team to build their platform. Configure has raised $2 million in a seed round led by TitletownTech, a Wisconsin-based venture capital fund formed out of a partnership between the Green Bay Packers and Microsoft. Configure will deploy its new capital to expand its software technology and make additional product development hires.
These spinoffs demonstrate KLH’s innovation beyond engineering consultation, says Tavernelli, who implies there might be more to come. “We learned so much throughout this journey and KLH will leverage that experience to continue seeking ways to create new value in the industry.”
Related Stories
| Oct 4, 2011
GREENBUILD 2011: Methods, impacts, and opportunities in the concrete building life cycle
Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s (MIT) Concrete Sustainability Hub conducted a life-cycle assessment (LCA) study to evaluate and improve the environmental impact and study how the “dual use” aspect of concrete.
| Oct 4, 2011
GREENBUILD 2011: Johnsonite features sustainable products
Products include rubber flooring tiles, treads, wall bases, and more.
| Oct 4, 2011
GREENBUILD 2011: Nearly seamless highly insulated glass curtain-wall system introduced
Low insulation value reflects value of entire curtain-wall system.
| Oct 3, 2011
Balance bunker and Phase III projects breaks ground at Mitsubishi Plant in Georgia
The facility, a modification of similar facilities used by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Inc. (MHI) in Japan, was designed by a joint design team of engineers and architects from The Austin Company of Cleveland, Ohio, MPSA and MHI.
| Oct 3, 2011
Cauceglia to lead Allsteel’s global accounts
Cauceglia is responsible for developing new global business strategies and expanding existing business within the Fortune 500 sector.
| Sep 30, 2011
BBS Architects & Engineers completes welcoming center at St. Charles Resurrection Cemetery
The new structure serves as the cemetery's focal architectural point and center of operations.
| Sep 30, 2011
AAMA offers electronic technical documents with launch of virtual library
This new program offers a system for members to purchase annual licenses in order to offer electronic versions of AAMA publications in an effort to make AAMA’s technical information resources more readily available to their employees.
| Sep 29, 2011
Submit your Great Solutions
Profiles of Great Solutions will appear in December 2011 issue of Building Design+Construction.
| Sep 29, 2011
Busch Engineering, Science and Technology Residence Hall opens to Rutgers students
With a total development cost of $57 million, B.E.S.T. is the first on-campus residence hall constructed by Rutgers since 1994.
