April 18, 2022 – Aurora, Colo. — Encore Electric celebrated the official opening of its new 67,000 square foot Prefabrication and Tool Center in Aurora, Colorado on April 7, 2022. Accompanied by City of Aurora Mayor Mike Coffman, Encore Electric customers, and other members of the business, Encore Electric celebrated a new chapter of our prefabrication, VDC, and tools story.  

Located in Aurora, Colorado, the facility brings together services that were previously in multiple locations, providing the space needed to expand prefabrication capabilities for current and future projects, while increasing capacity to develop electrical and technology solutions careers. Led by retired Encore Electric Executive Vice President Garry Lawrenz, the move marks the completion of several months of research, planning, and construction. In addition to the teams now working out of the new center, many Encore Electric employees were involved in the process from across the company, including electricians and technology solutions professionals, who helped in building the Center’s TI.   

“This new facility represents a challenge. It puts us on a new level where we must be more proactive, being able to accommodate and serve our customers in the field while at the same time making sure our space is being adequately used. It’s been challenging, but it’s been so exciting to be a part of,” said Jose Saenz, Tool Manager.  

Encore Electric takes pride in the education that we provide our apprentices within the Prefabrication and Tool Center, where our apprentices spend their first few months, learning the basics and establishing their educational foundation within the trade. Our new facility will help us in growing present and future generations of apprentices. In addition, the new facility will also host specialized technology solutions training in the same location.  

A group of students from William Smith High School in Aurora joined Encore Electric for the ceremony, representing future generations of apprentices that will come through the facility. Educator D’Andre Q. Curtis accompanied the students and spoke on the significance of the facility.  

“For our youth it’s like iron sharpening iron, understanding that their education will provide them opportunities to be successful, and their peers can share in that experience with them,” said Curtis. “It’s the experience of a lifetime because the more they discover, the more opportunity they have to be successful.” 

“It is so incredible to see so many opportunities for our students to join in welding and VDC (Virtual Design & Construction), this is just a fantastic space for future opportunities for so many people,” said Lulu Lantzy, representing Emily Griffith Technical College. 

While expanding career opportunities, the new facility will also further our ability to surpass the expectations of customers in providing ALL THINGS power, technology, and energy without limitations. Prefabrication gives Encore Electric the tools we need to work in a safer controlled environment, lessen onsite manpower, test equipment safely, remove waste from jobsites and landfills, optimize a consistent workflow, and provides a place to safely train our apprentices with a hands-on approach to better prepare them for their future in the field.

“As an organization our goal is to provide services for our customers you can’t get anywhere else, and this facility allows us to do that. For us to provide our customers with these things without limitations is a big task, this facility helps us do that,” said Willis Wiedel, president of Encore Electric. 

“This will present more opportunity for us to provide training for new electricians as they enter the industry as well as allow us to support our customers on more complex projects,” said Encore Electric Chief Operating Officer Andy Gordon. “The use of prefabrication on our projects is part of our culture and success, it is who we are and will be a large part of where we are going. A goal we have had for years is to be able to combine technology, training, VDC and our tool department under one roof, and today we were able to accomplish that.” 

The Prefabrication and Tool Center is the heart of so much of what Encore Electric does. Committed to serving the people and communities where we live and work. Encore Electric looks forward to continuing to invest and connect with community members and partners.  

“This is more than a shop, it’s Encore’s chance to bring hope and opportunity to the community, our educational partners, our customers, trade partners and our people,” said Sam Hamilton, director of Virtual Construction and Prefabrication. “It’s our vision to never stop improving on what we have or the quality of our lives so that we leave the generations to come the same incredible opportunity to dream big.”  

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