How Miller Davis Leverages Autodesk to Drive Efficiencies on a Complex Montessori School Project

Published by Autodesk on October 7, 2026 · Updated October 7, 2026

• autodesk-construction-cloud
• construction-project-management
• rfi-management
• submittal-management
• spec-automation

Who is Miller Davis Company?

Miller Davis Company is a full-service construction company headquartered in Kalamazoo, Michigan, with more than 100 years of experience in general contracting and construction management. The company serves the commercial, higher education, K–12, government, healthcare, industrial, and nonprofit sectors and emphasizes cutting-edge technology and specialty contractor partnerships to deliver high-quality service.

How is Miller Davis using Autodesk on the Montessori school project?

Miller Davis is using Autodesk Build and Pype AutoSpecs to improve efficiency, coordination, and schedule performance on an 85,000 sq ft Montessori school project in Traverse City, Michigan. The project includes a gymnasium, two classroom wings, an administration wing, and other high-end features and details.

Miller Davis already used Autodesk AEC Collection and BuildingConnected within Autodesk Construction Cloud, and the Montessori school project became the pilot for expanding use of the unified platform. The team selected the project because its size, scope, and schedule made it a strong test case for Autodesk Build’s full capabilities.

Why did Miller Davis choose Autodesk as a technology partner?

Miller Davis chose Autodesk because the company wanted a long-term technology partner that would support growth, improve workflows, and create a path to successful adoption.

Pete Hill, Project Executive at Miller Davis Company, said the goal was to align with a technology partner invested in the company’s long-term growth strategy and willing to work closely with the team during adoption. Ariel Castillo, Strategic Process & VDC Specialist at Miller Davis Company, added that Autodesk’s investment in interoperability and a one-stop-shop platform made a common data environment more practical for the firm’s future.

How did Miller Davis implement new construction management tools without disrupting the field team?

Miller Davis used a structured change-management approach built around people, process, and technology. The company’s technology committee evaluated tools against existing workflows, and leadership asked Castillo and Hill to find a modern solution that could help the company grow, attract talent, and strengthen subcontractor relationships.

To support adoption, Miller Davis and Autodesk created a custom onboarding plan that defined how Build would be implemented and which workflows should be optimized first. Hill described the rollout as a systematic approach that focuses on understanding the current state, defining the desired state, and mapping the path between them.

The team also held virtual meetings to review the RFIs and submittals process and train contractors in the field. Hill said the new system has been easy for teams to migrate to because it is intuitive and easy to use.

How does a common data environment help multidisciplinary teams stay aligned?

A common data environment helps multidisciplinary teams stay aligned by putting project information in one place and making it accessible anytime, anywhere, and from any device. On the Montessori school project, more than 80 people have access to Autodesk Build.

That centralized access reduces confusion, improves transparency, and lowers the risk of teams working from outdated information. Castillo said Autodesk Build helps Miller Davis work more efficiently and coordinate more effectively as projects become more complex.

By using one platform for project information, Miller Davis reduces the chance of rework, schedule delays, and cost overruns caused by version confusion or missing context.

How does Miller Davis manage RFIs and submittals in Autodesk Build?

Miller Davis manages RFIs and submittals in Autodesk Build so project teams can track status, assignees, next steps, and progress in one place.

The platform also lets the team reference related project information such as Files, Photos, Sheets, and Issues directly within an RFI or submittal. That added context helps project members resolve questions faster and keeps the process streamlined.

Hill said the company’s previous construction management solution functioned more like a file storage system and did not offer the same visibility or flexibility. With Autodesk Build, Miller Davis can drive accountability across teams and reduce the risk of installing materials based on outdated information.

How does Autodesk Build improve meetings and project accountability?

Autodesk Build makes meetings more organized and actionable by centralizing the agenda, notes, action items, due dates, and project references in one tool.

Using the Meeting tool, the project executive creates the agenda directly in Build, records notes during the meeting, assigns action items, and sets due dates. The team can also link specific Issues, RFIs, and submittals that need to be discussed, which makes real-time reference and follow-up easier.

Hill said this approach means teams do not need to upload a log ahead of time and can come more prepared. The result is more value-added discussion during meetings and less administrative overhead.

How does Pype AutoSpecs automate specification and submittal workflows?

Pype AutoSpecs automates submittal log creation by scanning specification documents, identifying project requirements and product data, and generating a comprehensive draft submittal log.

Miller Davis uses the tool to replace manual copy-and-paste work that traditionally takes significant time. Hill said the process that used to take one week now takes two days.

That time savings matters on the Montessori school project because the schedule is tight. By getting requirements to subcontractors sooner, Miller Davis can move the project forward faster and transfer the submittal log directly into Autodesk Build.

How does Miller Davis use Pype AutoSpecs to support subcontractors?

Miller Davis uses Pype AutoSpecs to filter specifications by subcontractor and create customized mini-logs for each trade partner’s scope of work.

Those tailored logs help subcontractors receive only the information they need, sooner than the company’s previous manual process allowed. Castillo said this supports stronger upfront communication and helps set subcontractors up for success.

The company’s goal is to build positive relationships with subcontractors and create a cohesive team that consistently delivers high-quality work.

How does Miller Davis use digital project delivery to improve closeout?

Miller Davis uses Pype to improve project closeout through document collection and digital turnover package generation.

As subcontractors complete their scopes, they can upload and submit documents that support the closeout process. Hill said these systems enhance the digital handover to the owner and help make Miller Davis more competitive on future jobs by allowing the company to present more project details and help ease the owner’s operational costs.

What business value does Miller Davis expect from Autodesk and Pype?

Miller Davis expects Autodesk and Pype to improve project efficiency, reduce risk, strengthen communication, and support better project outcomes.

The company sees value in faster submittal processing, better visibility into RFIs, more organized meetings, and more reliable data capture across projects. Standardized data collection is intended to support higher-quality builds for clients while helping Miller Davis refine how it uses technology across the organization.

Hill said the company needs technology that helps it work more effectively so it can complete projects on time and on budget, win repeat business, and earn referrals.

Why does technology adoption matter beyond the jobsite for Miller Davis?

Technology adoption matters beyond the jobsite because it helps Miller Davis build better relationships, win more work, and attract talent.

In Kalamazoo, word of mouth plays a major role in how general contractors get invited to bid. Hill said consistent delivery, better deliverables, and on-time, on-budget execution can lead to repeat work and peer recommendations.

Castillo also said that connected solutions help Miller Davis stand out in the architecture, engineering, and construction industry by reducing manual work, optimizing workflows, and creating a selling point for recruiting, retaining, and onboarding new talent.

What is Miller Davis building toward with Autodesk Construction Cloud?

Miller Davis is building toward a more efficient, connected, and scalable construction operation using Autodesk Construction Cloud, Autodesk Build, and Pype AutoSpecs.

The Montessori school project is the start of a broader effort to use automated systems so teams can focus more time on high-value activities and less time on repetitive tasks. Hill said these tools help Miller Davis continue to deliver high-quality work to clients.

With a unified solution in place, Miller Davis can stay more efficient, keep teams on schedule and under budget, and continue improving workflows through continuous innovation.