People Powering Innovation: Building Smarter Through Logistics

At Weitz, innovation often happens behind the scenes, solving challenges before they impact a project. For Kyle Hartzell, Senior Project Superintendent, innovation is about creating smarter site logistics that keep people, materials, and projects moving safely and efficiently. 

Every project presents unique challenges, but Kyle believes one of the most important and often-overlooked aspects of construction is planning how work, materials, and people move throughout the jobsite. When logistics are predictable, teams can perform their best. 

“Often, our projects are in challenging areas that require new ideas or creative solutions to keep the project moving. The more predictably material and people can move throughout a project, the better the team can perform.” 

That mindset has been especially important on the Des Moines International Airport Terminal project, where construction is taking place alongside an active airport. With the operating airfield, the existing terminal, and busy passenger roadways surrounding the project, every delivery and construction activity requires careful planning and collaboration. 

Finding Creative Solutions 

One example came during the construction of the new pedestrian bridge connecting the terminal to the parking garage. 

To keep airport traffic flowing, the bridge was constructed in phases, allowing vehicles to continue accessing the existing terminal throughout construction. However, transporting prefabricated bridge sections onto the site created an unexpected challenge. A raised pedestrian crossing prevented the low-boy trailers from reaching the installation area without risking damage to existing infrastructure. 

Rather than accepting additional risk by lifting the trailers with a crane, the project team worked together to explore alternative solutions. Through collaborative planning, the team developed a simple but effective solution by creating a gradual ramp using rubber traffic cone bases, allowing the trailers to safely cross the raised section without damaging the sidewalk. 

For Kyle, the experience reinforced that innovation is not always about complex technology. Sometimes it comes from bringing people together to solve problems in new ways. 

Another improvement focused on the concourse delivery area. Instead of reinstalling temporary wood doors after relocating the delivery entrance, the team proposed installing an overhead coiling door. The new solution reduced safety exposure during deliveries while minimizing ongoing maintenance, creating a safer and more efficient process for everyone working on the project. 

Building Better Beyond the Jobsite 

Kyle’s commitment to innovation extends beyond individual projects. 

As an Operational Excellence Subject Matter Expert (OpEx SME), he has helped develop resources like the 90-Day Training Guide for Superintendents and the Know Your Role program, giving operations employees the tools and knowledge to succeed. 

As part of Weitz’s High Potential (HiPo) program, Kyle also helped develop new processes that strengthen collaboration between preconstruction and operations teams. By creating responsibility matrices and structured check-in meetings, these improvements encourage knowledge sharing, clarify expectations, and help lessons learned on one project benefit future teams. 

For Kyle, innovation is ultimately about empowering people to work together more effectively. Whether developing creative solutions to keep construction moving at an active airport or creating processes that help teams share knowledge and collaborate, his focus remains the same: finding safer, smarter, and more predictable ways to build.