Covering the Industry’s News
Texas Style
P.O. Box 791290 San Antonio, Texas 78279-1290
PRSRT. STD. U.S. POSTAGE PAID DALLAS, TX PERMIT #1451
Change Service Requested
San Antonio Dallas/Fort Worth Austin Houston South Texas
Houston
CONSTRUCTION
™
The Industry’s Newspaper Japanese Gardens, Houston
www.constructionnews.net
H
(210) 308-5800
H
Volume 13
H
Number 6
H
JUNE 2015
Achieving goals
Making an impact
William Sanchez recently graduated from Golden Sachs 10,000 Small Business Cohort 12 at Houston Community College.
The Locke Solutions team gathers at the crane served warehouse about a mile from Hobby Airport.
M
aking sure to always hire and train the best employees, President William Sanchez founded Oxford Builders Inc. in 1996. He had a can-do-attitude in the beginning and still does today. “I started Oxford Builders because, as a project manager for a major general contractor, I would often find no one available to hang doors at the end of projects,” Sanchez said. Sanchez began his business from a home office and quickly moved to a new, larger location as a result of increasing sales and the need to more efficiently communicate with his employees. He heard about the city’s certification program through the Service Corps
of Retired Executives (SCORE), and shortly after attending a pre-certification workshop, Oxford Builders became a Minority and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise. Door and hardware installation and rough carpentry were Oxford Builders founding trades. Over the years, the company has expanded its services to include finish carpentry, louver installation, cementitious product installation, decks, ramps and stairways, wall protection and custom cabinets. “We have been fortunate to have the top general contractors in the Houston area as customers and friends,” Sanchez continued on Page 13
B
efore President Asher Kazmann, PE, opened Locke Solutions in 2013, he spent a decade gaining experience in structural precast design and production management. “I started Locke Solutions because I felt it was time to raise the bar for what the terms quality and customer service meant in the construction industry,” Kazmann said. Locke Solutions has grown since 2013 and this year more than 30 employees work at the company. “We also have a new website with updated and new product drawings,” he said. “We’ve optimized our site for mobile phones and tablets, and streamlined the interface so customers can find what
they need quickly and easily.” Kazmann says the best part about what he does today is working with the people in the construction industry. “There are a lot of good people in the industry, whether it is contractors or engineers,” he said. “I think there are a lot of hard working people in the industry who enjoy being outside building projects. “There’s also a lot of gratification in what we do at Locke Solutions. Developing unique design solutions and then building those ideas into tangible products is incredible.” The company has provided precast continued on Page 13
Gather ‘round the table
T
he Pizaro’s Pizza II project, located at 1000 W. Gray Suite 400 in Houston, is now complete. The restaurant provides authentic traditional Italian pizza. Trincon Services Group LLC is the GC. The restaurant owners are Bill and Gloria Hutchinson, Matt Hutchinson and Nicole Bean. Braun Enterprises owns the building. “Bill trained in Italy and received certification as a pizzaiuolo from the verace pizza napoletana organization,” says Eric Sarlls, Tricon Services Group president and project manager. Sarlls says the approximate cost for the 3,300-sf restaurant project was $400,000. The primary construction materials included concrete, drywall, millwork, electrical, plumbing and mechanical. “Challenges the construction team met and overcame were finding existing
unforeseen items under the slab due to the fact the building was built in the ‘40s,” he said. “The weather was another issue during the seven month project.” Sarlls says Tipps Architecture designed the one of a kind restaurant The restaurant has sleek lines, modern elements and retro style. “The owner, Tipps Architecture, and our construction team were always willing to work together to resolve any issues quickly and efficiently,” he said. “The subcontractors went above and beyond to get the project finished on time.” Established in Dec. 2009, Trincon Services Group has one office located in Houston. The company has worked on previous projects such as the Whitlock relocation in Houston and the Central Transportation Systems relocation in Missouri City. The Pizaro’s Pizza II interior.
continued on Page 13