Environmental Construction Group by North American Constructors Journal

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Environmental Construction Group :

Big-Time Jobs, Big-Time Reputation Environmental Construction Group of Signal CA is among the leading hazardous material abatement and demolition contractors in Southern California. Written by Kevin Doyle Produced by Stephen Marino

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ow in its 17th year of operation, Environmental Construction Group of Signal CA is regarded among the leading hazardous materials abatement and demolition contractors in Southern California. The company works across the commercial, industrial, education, government, healthcare, marine, airport and retail sectors providing services from structural demolition, site clearing and excavation to asbestos abatement and cleanups of all types. The company is under the direction of President Darrin McElroy, a 30-year industry veteran with vast experience across the realm of hazardous materials abatement. “I started scraping asbestos for six dollars an hour in a work program,” he recalls. The privately held company employs approximately 200 and typically generates $50million in annual revenue. The company’s team approach of partnering with owners, general contractors and consultants guarantees clients receive the most efficient, cost effective and safest project possible. “Placing money first will lead you to make some decisions that are the wrong ones. By placing the customer first you’re going to make the right decision, you’re going to build a highend base, you’re going to feel good

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about what you do and the money will follow,” McElroy notes. The company is fully licensed, insured and bonded to perform abatement and demolition services throughout California. ECG actively holds B, C21, ASB and HAZ license, as well as its DOSH certificate with the state. The company is affiliated with The Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) , TOMI Environmental Solutions, the Laborers’ International Union of North America, Local 300, The Building Industry Association of Southern California, and The International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE). As a committed community partner ECG supports an array of local, regional, national an international charitable organizations.

Some Premier Projects The New LA Century Plaza Hotel: This $15.8m 16-story project for Webcor Builders along LA’s iconic Avenue of the Stars involved structural demolition along with asbestos abatement and lead blasting. It is but a single piece of the massive $2.5bn Century Plaza mixed use development. “It’s the largest job in LA at the moment. We butted the entire structure, cleaned the entire structure of asbestos, and executed the concrete

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Environmental Construction Group | 8 demolition, coring and cutting. It was very involved,” McElroy says. The new hotel stands on the site of the crescent-shaped original, which opened in 1966, and will include 63 condominiums on the upper floors, 400 rooms and 93,000sf of commercial space. LAX United Terminal Redevelopment: The $8.9 million project for client Hensel Phelps involved demolition and abatement of terminals 7 and 8 and apron. The Terminal 7 and 8 baggage and building systems are being completely replaced to provide a more efficient and sustainable built environment for United Airlines and its passengers. “The demolition at LAX involved asbestos removal, lead removal and soft demolition, structural demolition and removal of contaminated soil,” McElroy says.

The company has also been involved with the PetroChem Ventura California Oil Refinery EPA Closure Project; The renovation and expansion of UCLA’s famous Pauley Pavilion; and the Santa Margarita River Bridge replacement. “We really are now considered a premier company Southern California, I think, because we’ve grown to a point that we have a reputation that we’re taking on a number of large, challenging jobs,” McElroy points out.

Safety Protocol Given the often dangerous and always intricate nature of the company’s work, ECG has stressed safety as a prime objective since the day the company opened. The company’s Safety Director is responsible for developing and promoting a proactive safety culture and works closely with the team to ensure compliance.

Pier E Terminal East Basin Fill: The $1.7 million job for Manson Construction and the Port of Long Beach involved removing 800 feet of an existing wharf and pile system. The final phase of the more than $1bn re-establishment and rehabilitation project is just being completed.

The company is committed to a “Target Zero” workplace and works to prevent damage to property and environment toward cultivating an environmentally friendly and sustainable workplace. ECG works hard to develop employees who are knowledgeable, trained and able to provide safe solutions on any given project.

“The wharf replacement work was really cool and challenging as it involved demoing piers over water,” McElroy notes.

“Injuries or accidents happen that could have been prevented, I don’t know how you take that back,”

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The company has been recognized a number of times by its clients and industry organizations for its safety achievements. On at least one occasion, McElroy recalls, “there was $10m job where we were brought in to finish because of pretty serious safety problems with the prior contractor.”

Day To Day McElroy cannot stress enough

“

Placing money first will lead

you to make some decisions that are the wrong ones. By placing the customer first you’re going to make the right decision.

“

McElroy says.

- President Darren McElroy www.ecgcorp.net

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committed the company is tocultivating repeat business and to satisfying each and every one of its clients. “We really are customer based and our goal to provide our customer with the best possible end product. Our customer satisfaction rating is extremely high and really is our vision here with our great team working together to be successful on every job,” McElroy notes. “So many companies seem to place the money first and consider that successful but they eventually run into trouble.” The company is diligent in maintaining a stable core group of partners, whether materials suppliers, equipment

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providers or subs working on the job. “We make sure we pay our subs in a timely fashion and that we pay them well so that they are excited to work for us and that we continue to get the best subs. We demand a lot of them but we also pay them accordingly so that we get the highest levels of work,” McElroy says. The bottom line? “Companies are giving us jobs because they know we’re doing things the right way. That feels good and it also creates a good environment for our employees. Recognition for doing a job well eliminates a lot of issues,” McElroy concludes.

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