Hugo Avila, PE serves as a Senior Project Manager based in DBR’s McAllen office. He has over 27 years of experience in the building design and construction industry. Hugo holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from The University of Texas at San Antonio and has been a licensed Professional Engineer since 2002.
Hugo’s project experience includes MEP system design as a consulting engineer in addition to several years on the client side of the business as the District Staff Engineer for McAllen ISD. The experience working for a client organization has benefitted Hugo as a consulting engineer by helping him to understand the Owner’s perspective. This experience also taught him the value of building strong industry relationships.
After returning to a consulting role, Hugo spent the next several years working primarily in the Higher Education market for clients including the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Texas A&M University – Kingsville, and South Texas College. Hugo’s experience as an Owner’s representative and his years of experience in building system design have shaped his approach to delivering successful projects to our clients. His commitment to meeting the Owner’s needs and providing friendly service make him a valuable part of the DBR team.
Q&A with Hugo:
Q: DBR recently established an office in Laredo, Texas. What do you see as key opportunities for the Laredo office in the next 5 years?
A: We hope to continue to foster relationships with some key clients in the Laredo area. We expect to see new opportunities in K-12 schools, higher education, and local government work.
Q: What have you found yourself focusing on most during the last few months given the current industry challenges and what kind of development is the K-12 market experiencing?
A: Many South Texas school districts have taken advantage of ESSER grant funding to repair, replace, or improve their HVAC systems. We have been busy helping several school districts manage this work. The cost of construction materials and the delivery time for major mechanical and electrical equipment has been a challenge. We are attempting to remain informed so that we can guide our clients to make the best decisions about their facilities.
Q: What are some proven methodologies you have used to ensure DBR delivers projects that go above and beyond our client’s expectations?
A: Ultimately, the key to exceeding expectations is good communication. It is always important, and especially so when working with prime clients, to understand the Owner’s needs, clearly define the project scope and goals, and make sure that everyone is on the same page. It is also critically important that we follow our own strict quality assurance plan in order to deliver the best value to the client.
Have questions? Give Hugo a call:
Hugo Avila, PE
Senior Project Manager, Associate
956.683.1640
[email protected]