Sundt Senior Project Engineer Michael Miller is a Tucson native who graduated from Arizona State University’s Del E. Webb School of Construction. He then moved to Las Vegas to work for his family doing retail and theater work at resorts.
He wanted to get into high rise construction and was hired as a Sundt employee-owner in 2014. Michael worked on the Tercero Phase III and Campus Village 2 projects in California before coming to Tucson to work on the Banner-UMC expansion.
What does a Project Engineer do?
A project engineer is the main person responsible for information as it passes from the design team to the field. This includes all RFIs, submittals, architectural supplemental information, document control and coordination efforts for their respective trades. A typical day includes tracking materials and equipment in time for install in the field, troubleshooting with the design team any items that may need clarification to the field, and coordinating among various subcontractors for upcoming areas of work to ensure questions are asked (as well as answered) prior to the start of work.
How are things going at the Banner-UMC Tucson project?
Things are going well. We are beginning to do start-up on major equipment. This month, we crossed a major milestone and got power on inside our building. The building is in multiple stages of construction including framing, mechanical, electrical and plumbing rough-in, and drywall. The project is on track to accommodate patients early- to mid-2019.
You’re from Tucson. It must be nice to work on a project at home.
I love being home and being able to see my family without a 12-hour drive from California.
What are your favorite things to do away from work?
When I am away from work, I enjoy random adventures with my friends and family, golfing, and hiking.
Where do you most want to travel?
I would most like to travel to Asia. I am always interested in seeing places with a lot of history. Boston and Rome are my favorite places.
Cat person or dog person?
I am definitely a dog person. My fiancée and I have three dogs: A mini schnauzer, boxer/black lab, and the boss (at least she thinks so), a teacup Pomeranian.