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CONSTRUCTION
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Volume 17
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Number 9
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SEPTEMBER 2015
Covering a century
A Texas titan
Sam and Margie O’Krent are celebrating the 100th anniversary of the family business, O’Krent’s Abbey Flooring Center. Photo by Allan Smith
The titans of industry at Titan Development and Reid & Associates L-R: Kirsten Galvan, John Bonney and Kevin Reid
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urrently led by its fourth generation, O’Krent’s Abbey Flooring Center is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. Upon the centennial milestone, the current president and COO, Sam O’Krent, happens to be the namesake of the founder, Samuel O’Krent. Sam’s great-grandfather started the company in Cincinnati in 1915. Before he ventured into the floor covering business, he was a cap manufacturer, and according to family legend, he made hats for John Philip Sousa’s band. In 1936, during the Depression, he moved his flooring business to San Antonio. Samuel’s only son, Ted O’Krent, helped him move the business into its
first Alamo City location on St. Mary’s Street in the heart of downtown, where they had outdoor plumbing. At the time of the move, Ted’s son and Sam’s father, Arthur O’Krent, was 2 years old. In 1949, they moved to the San Pedro location, where the business remained until relocating to its current location on 1604 in 2001. Now, under the leadership of Sam and his wife, Margie O’Krent, vice president and CFO, the company is celebrating its 100th anniversary with three giveaways of $10,000 worth of product, with no purchase necessary, to give back to the community. “The beautiful thing that’s been continued on Page 24
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fter discovering a passion for design build, Kevin Reid established Reid & Associates (R&A) in Albuquerque, NM in 1990. Two years ago, he expanded operations by opening Reid & Associates of Texas in San Antonio, where Reid, founder and CEO, lives today. Born and raised in Texas, Reid grew up and attended the University of Texas in Austin. After graduating with his degree in architecture, he practiced architecture in Austin and Dallas, but he became frustrated and realized he wanted to do more than just the design. “I wanted to be able to fully integrate that design through the completion of a project,” recalls Reid. “So, the construction side of the business gained a lot of
interest for me.” He went to work for the Wray Company, out of Arizona, where he saw many advantages to the fully integrated approach of having the architectural and engineering design team at the table with the contractor from the inception of a project. Celebrating the 25th anniversary of his company, Reid is still the sole owner. The vice president in charge of construction companywide for R&A is John Bonney, who also lives in San Antonio and runs the San Antonio office. In Texas, R&A’s biggest markets are industrial manufacturing and warehouse projects and senior living facilities. continued on Page 24
Monuments to legendary lawmen
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he Texas Rangers are legendary in law enforcement. Founded by Stephen F. Austin in 1823, the rangers have nearly two centuries of history and stories to pass on to future generations. That’s why The Koehler Company was proud to take on the new Texas Rangers Heritage Center in Fredericksburg. The project covers a little over 10 acres at 1618 Hwy 290 East, and the property is owned by the City of Fredericksburg. The Retired Texas Rangers Foundation, Koehler’s client and owner of the heritage center and recently completed structures, has a 99-year lease on the property. After 18 months of work, Koehler achieved substantial completion on Phase I in early August. With a budget of $3.8 million, work is being funded by donations and released in stages with the heritage center building to be built at a later date.
The front end of Phase I involved a lot of utility work to get the necessary infrastructure in place, including utilities for the heritage center building. This included relocating a 12-inch water main and a 2-inch force sewer. The project team had to set up gas, domestic water, sewer and telephone lines, among other primary services before starting work on the structures. Koehler built three main structures on the property. The pavilion, approximately 135 feet by 65 feet, is a large, open-air gathering area that will be used for events, including fundraisers and weddings. The pavilion also has an enclosed kitchen, storage room, mechanical room and janitor room as well as men’s and women’s restrooms, all of which are air-conditioned. Another structure on the property is a monument replica of a Texas Ranger’s The Koehler Company recently completed work on the Texas Rangers Heritage Center, Phase I, in Fredericksburg.
continued on Page 24