A building can look great on paper. But what matters most is how it works once people walk through the doors. How comfortable is it? How efficient does its systems operate? Do the systems work together like they should? And how will the building perform in the coming years after construction is completed?
These are insights and considerations E3M Solutions take when approaching any project, and our work with Otter Air Services serves as a great example.
A New Home for Otter Air
Located at Gerald R. Ford International Airport in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Otter Air Services’ headquarters brings several functions together under one roof. The ~40,000 square foot facility includes corporate officers, a client lounge, an aircraft hanger, and an FBO for Otter’s customers. E3M Solutions partnered with FCC Construction and Integrated Architecture to provide MEP engineering and energy management support for the project.
It’s a unique facility with a unique set of needs. And for E3M, that’s where the fun of engineering begins. Because good MEP engineering isn’t about just making sure a building has heating, cooling, power, plumbing, and the other systems it needs. It’s about understanding the people who will use the building and designing around what they actually need from it.
Engineering Around the People in the Building
At E3M, we believe the best engineering starts with listening. That means understanding the goals of their own, the needs of the people using the space, the realities of construction, and what it will take to operate the building successfully over time.
Our MEP engineering approach is intentionally human. We look at the whole picture rather than treating the individual systems as separate pieces. That means considering energy use, occupant comfort, maintenance, reliability, and long-term building performance together. For a facility like Otter Air Services, those details matter. The building needs to support the people working there, the customers passing through, and the operations happening around it. The engineering behind the building should make those experiences easier, more comfortable, and more reliable.
Where MEP Engineering and Energy Management Come Together
One of the things that makes E3M different is our ability to bring MEP engineering and energy management together. We don’t believe energy should be an afterthought. It should be part of the conversation from the beginning.
Our engineering team designs with energy, occupant comfort, and maintenance in mind, while our energy team looks for practical opportunities to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and increase building performance. When those perspectives come together, the result is a more complete view of how a building can work better. For our work at Otter Air Services, that meant approaching the project with both today’s needs and tomorrow’s performance in mind. Because a building isn’t finished when construction wraps up, it is only the beginning.
Better Work Happens Through Real Partnership
No building gets designed or built by one person. Projects like Otter Air Services take architects, contractors, engineers, owners, and countless other people who are working together for the same goal. And that’s why partnership is such a big part of how we work. E3M doesn’t want to be an engineering firm that disappears behind a set of drawings. We want to be a part of the conversation from start to finish. We listen, collaborate, communicate clearly, and work alongside our project partners to find the right path forward. Our partnership with FCC Construction and Integrated Architecture on Otter Air Services is another opportunity to do just that.
A Building Designed for What’s Next
There’s something rewarding about walking through a project after the work is complete and seeing how it all comes together. The walls are finished, the spaces are being used, and the systems we helped design are doing what they were meant to do. Quietly supporting the people, operations, and experiences happening throughout the building every day.
That’s the part of engineering we love. It’s not always the part people notice. But when it’s done well, people feel the difference. Our visit to the Otter Air Services headquarters was a great reminder of why we do what we do. At E3M, doing better means designing with purpose, building real partnerships, communicating honestly, and keeping people at the center of every decision. We’re proud to have played a part in creating a space that supports Otter Air Services today and is built to serve them well for years to come.
Have a project you’re planning in Michigan?
Curious if your upcoming construction project could benefit from partnering with E3M? Fill out the contact form, and let’s start a conversation about how thoughtful engineering and energy management can help reduce energy costs, improve building performance, and lower your carbon footprint.
