When ECI Construction Services broke ground on the new Culver's restaurant in Mahomet, Illinois in September 2024, they faced a tight timeline and the looming challenge of winter construction. Located at 2006 Patton Drive, this project would require precision planning, constant monitoring, and adaptive management to complete on schedule.
The construction journey began with optimism but quickly faced the realities of building in the Midwest during winter months. As temperatures dropped and snow began to fall, the ECI team needed real-time visibility of their construction site, even when weather conditions made in-person visits difficult. They turned to BuildCam's time-lapse and livestream technology as their eyes on the ground.
"It was customer service, quote within seconds, call within 5 minutes – that's how we work," explained Dan Hutton, Project Manager at ECI Construction Services. This responsiveness matched ECI's own approach to client service and project management, creating an immediate alignment of values.
The BuildCam system became an essential tool as winter intensified. Project managers could monitor subcontractor activities remotely, ensuring proper safety protocols were followed despite the challenging conditions. The ability to verify subcontractors were using proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) proved invaluable for maintaining site safety and compliance standards throughout the build.
As construction progressed through December and January, the time-lapse feature documented each milestone, creating a compelling visual story of the restaurant taking shape. This documentation served multiple purposes - from keeping stakeholders updated to providing marketing material for ECI's social media platforms.
By mid-February 2025, despite the snowy winter conditions that might typically delay such projects, ECI Construction Services completed the Culver's restaurant right on schedule. The restaurant owners took occupancy as planned, allowing them to prepare for their grand opening without delays. The seamless completion represents not just another successful project in ECI's portfolio, but a testament to how construction technology and responsive service partnerships can overcome seasonal challenges in commercial construction.
