Sealevel Construction

Recent Acquisitions, Industrial Work + Local Workforce Propels Growth for Heavy Civil Contractor

Sealevel Construction is a heavy civil contractor established in southeast Louisiana that performs services for the marine and industrial markets. While the construction firm began its operations primarily as a small municipal contractor, over the last two decades it has developed its capabilities to provide services for the Gulf Coast region’s industrial, marine transportation, and infrastructure sectors.

Written by Leslie Blaize Produced by Stephen Marino

Sealevel Construction is a heavy civil contractor established in southeast Louisiana that performs services for the marine and industrial markets. While the construction firm began its operations primarily as a small municipal contractor, over the last two decades it has developed its capabilities to provide services for the Gulf Coast region’s industrial, marine transportation, and infrastructure sectors.

Sealevel now employs more than 250 employees in multiple disciplines. The company has also obtained five industry-related affiliate companies and performs work in eight states. Sealevel’s recent expansion efforts have resulted in the company securing approximately $90 million in annual revenue in 2021 and nearly $100 million thus far in annual revenue for 2022.

Sealevel’s overall growth can be attributed to the contractor’s new affiliated companies, increased industrial work, and, most importantly, its local workforce’s integrity and safe performance.

Core Capabilities

Sealevel can now self-perform most of the work on significant civil and marine projects including everything from site work to pile driving to structural concrete to steel fabrication to the electrical components. Director of Operations Travis Schonacher adds, “This diversity makes us very competitive in the markets we work in.”

Sealevel and its affiliated companies now offer the following core capabilities:

• Driven Piles • Drilled Deep Foundations • Structural Concrete • Structural Fabrication • Site Work Development • Civil Construction • Barge Maintenance and Repair** • Marine Transportation and Logistics** • Crane and Heavy Equipment Repair** • Electrical Services** • Mechanical/Utilities **denotes capabilities performed by Sealevel’s affiliate companies

Sealevel also has an AISCcertified structural steel fabrication division. The division, also known as Specks Fabrication and Cutting, employs nearly 40 workers including welders, draftsmen, painters, and quality control personnel. Specks’ fabrication shops house advanced cutting technology including the PythonX, Messer

Cutting Table, HGG Pro Cutter, EMI Pipe Processor and other cutting equipment. By offering a drafting team, diverse cutting, fabrication, and coating services, Specks can complete all phases of any size project to the quality standards expected. The Specks team works alongside Sealevel and other contractors to complete the fabrication portion of marine, commercial, industrial and bridge infrastructure projects.

Sealevel also added a marine repair and transportation affiliate to the family of companies. The marine division offers drydock capabilities as well as barge and tug maintenance and repair services for the marine transportation and construction industries. Situated along Louisiana’s southern waterways, the marine yard allows convenient access to all marinebased projects.

In addition, the company included electrical services to its portfolio of capabilities. The electrical affiliate provides diverse electrical services for marine, industrial, commercial and municipal facilities.

Lastly, their crane and equipment servicing affiliate provides maintenance and repair services for all makes and models of heavy

equipment in the construction, marine, and oil and gas industries. President Richard Roth believes that, “Adding fabrication, marine repair and transportation services, equipment repair, and electrical services to our list of capabilities has enabled us to be more competitive and more valuable to the industries we serve. I believe these new services will position the companies and its employees for more opportunities, leading to growth in new and current markets.”

Industrial Work

Sealevel’s turnkey solutions have allowed their team to deepen the company’s footprint in the industrial market. From installing deep foundations to structural concrete, Sealevel executes civil and foundation portions of industrial expansion and maintenance projects.

For example, their deep foundations crews completed an industrial project that entailed nearly 1,700 pipe piles. The Sealevel team also performed a major underground utilities project for a refinery, which included mass excavation, a concrete ring wall foundation, wet well installations, pipe rack supports, structural concrete and the installation of underground drainage throughout www.constructorsjournal.com

the facility. Another notable project for Sealevel’s industrial team was a drainage improvement project, which included structural concrete, pilings, construction of a catch basin and additional services. All three of the above-mentioned projects have been awarded Excellence in Construction(EIC) Awards through Sealevel’s membership with Associated Builders and Contractors, a national trade group. These awards continue to reflect Sealevel’s strong commitment to safety, innovation, and work integrity- all of which are criteria in achieving EIC awards.

Sealevel also performs dock repairs for industrial facilities that are situated along water channels and rivers. Sealevel recently self-performed a wharf repair, which included the fabrication, transportation and installation of a jacket structure, handrails, platforms, and walkways. The project also required site work and clearing, rip rap placement along the bank, and the installation of pipe piles and a fender system.

Sealevel’s industrial capabilities do not stop there. The contractor also has the team and equipment to design, engineer, fabricate and install helical piles and support products for the energy and industrial markets.

Municipal/Flood Control Work

Aside from Sealevel’s industrial work, their municipal division builds flood control infrastructure in South Louisiana for governmental municipalities and the United States Corps of Engineers. Equipped with a company-owned fleet of barges, cranes, tugs and other heavy equipment, the Sealevel team has constructed several projects as part ofhurricane protection systems. Projects include the construction of levees, pump stations, lock systems and flood control structures.

Featured Project

Bayou Chene Flood Control Structure, St. Mary and Terrebonne Parishes:

Sealevel recently finished the Bayou Chene Flood Control Structure, a long-awaited, $80 million structure constructed to prevent backwater flooding in 6 parish communities. Engineers deem this to be the largest flood control structure in the United States, as the entire structure provides approximately 1,050 linear feet of flood protection when the barge gate is in its closed position across the channel. The automated swinging barge www.constructorsjournal.com

gate is also massive by itself at 406’ long, which is longer than a football field.

Sealevel and its divisions self-performed 99% of the scope of work including:

- Installation of the floodwall consisting of steel sheet piles and associated plumb and battered pipe piles - Placement of rip rap for scour protection - Channel Dredging - Fabrication of walkways and handrails - Construction of tie-in levees - Installation of landing piles and a cut off wall - Fabrication and installation of two 40’(W) x 173’(L) x 36’(H) jacket receiving structures The Bayou Chene Flood Control Structure was successfully installed and delivered to the owner within the contract scheduled time. Though they experienced unforeseen challenges, Sealevel collaborated with the owner, engineer, U.S. Coast Guard and marine industry to complete the job within requirements.

Providing Jobs for a Local Workforce

Sealevel recognizes that these projects would not be possible if it weren’t for their employees, most of whom live locally in respect to Sealevel’s headquarters and their projects.

The team believes that a local workforce is a win-win for both Sealevel and its employees. Schonacher says, “Employees can be close to their families and go home every night, and we work with employees who understand and are prepared for Louisiana’s heat, geological landscape, and the local culture.”

Another selling point for employees is that Sealevel’s

workforce doesn’t have to be concerned about layoffs, as Sealevel’s position of growth continues to ensure work for all craftsmen and craftswomen. “We’ve never had a layoff because of lack of work,” says Schonacher. “We’re in a steady hiring mode.”

Though Sealevel is continuously seeking quality employees, their team has mentioned finding a skilled labor force has been challenging. Leaders are taking a multi-faceted approach to finding talent, including providing bonuses for employee referral, offering comprehensive training for new hires and distributing recruitment information to local universities and technical colleges.

Safety, Integrity and Communication Are Keys to Consistent Success

Whether a marine or landbased project, Sealevel’s team understands that safe performance, integrity and communication promote successful projects and lasting relationships with clients.

To ensure a safe work environment, Sealevel has developed a safety program of HSE professionals with distinct roles. The team has also established a safety committee that involves field and office personnel in order to plan and implement safety initiatives. Further, the safety team looks to ABC’s STEP program to incorporate valuable safety procedures and solutions into their own program, creating a safety culture specific to Sealevel’s operations. In 2021, ABC awarded Sealevel with the Diamond National Safety Award, reflecting Sealevel’s strength in safety. Criteria for this award included total recordable incidents, process and program innovation, lost workdays, EMR score and other safety criteria. The safety team looks forward to continued improvements to their safety program. “Safety has to be First” is one of the company’s core values. “We make it a priority to ensure our employee’s safety is the number one thing,” Schonacher emphasizes.

Another guiding principle to Sealevel’s success is integrity in their line of work. Their team emphasizes that having integrity in all phases of work enables trust between coworkers, subcontractors and engineering partners, ensuring lasting relationships and growth for their team. Roth adds, “We want to be known as a reliable, respectful and trustworthy heavy civil contractor that follows through with each commitment with integrity. We www.constructorsjournal.com

want to be intentional about this, because at the end of the day, performing with honesty and our God-given talents is what matters most.” COMPANY INFORMATION

Looking ahead

Celebrating 25 years in business this year, the Sealevel team and its affiliated companies look ahead to changing markets, while striving to bring the best possible game plan to its clients. Their team emphasizes that though they are proud of their accomplishments, they will not remain complacent. They continue to seek improved methods of performance and ways in which to operate in the best interests of its clients and outstanding employees.

Company Name:

Sealevel Construction

Country: USA

Industry: Construction

Est: 1997

Premier Services:

Heavy Civil Construction

President and Founder:

Richard Roth