The Midwest is not known for its temperate winters, with temperatures often plunging below freezing and an average annual snowfall of 20 to 30 inches. Metonic and APOGEE’s construction partners employ strategic construction practices to work around seasonal challenges and maintain project timelines.
Proactive Construction Partners
Preparation for winter starts long before the first frost. “Our contractors and subcontractors are planning in summer what they are going to do all through the winter,” says APOGEE VP of Project Management Kaya Beller. Some buildings are framed and winterized early, with windows and roofs installed before freezing conditions set in. This forward-thinking approach allows construction teams to maintain momentum by shifting focus to interior work on the coldest days.
Laying the Groundwork
Proactive paving and underground work are another key strategy for preventing cold weather delays. “Everything that goes in the ground is better done before it freezes,” Beller says. “Depending on the sustained temperature, the ground can freeze anywhere from a few inches to a few feet down.” APOGEE’s construction partners completed extensive pre-paving at the Gretna Landing site to prepare for framing, make the site more accessible, and create a safe path for the pre-leasing team to use once the first buildings are near completion. When timelines don’t allow for pre-paving, contractors use ground-thawing blankets to warm the soil and prepare it for pouring concrete.

Grenta Landing, Gretna, NE. January 2025
Managing Snowfall
While early paving helps mitigate delays, snowfall presents another hurdle for construction teams working through Midwest winters. On snowy days, the superintendent and a few on-site workers typically arrive at the site before the rest of their teams to clear paths through the snow and uncover any necessary areas. “Our contractors really go above and beyond for us,” Beller said.
Preventing Delays
Although pre-planning and weather mitigation strategies can keep developments progressing through most weather, some days are too cold or too snowy for teams to reach the site and work safely. APOGEE and Metonic build weather days into development timelines to prevent midwestern winters from delaying deliveries.
However, not all developments require such careful planning around winter weather. Metonic VP of Construction Management Ben Velinsky says that crews at Millenium in Palm Desert aren’t bothered by cooler seasonal temperatures. “It’s the best time of year working in the desert,” Velinsky says. “We are the most productive.”