Solidarity Contracting
Sullivan & Cozart NEW TRADITIONS
SUCCESS RUNS IN THE FAMILY
Levent Ulusal leads his company to success in contracting for the educational sector through his magic "Triple E" formula: economy, environment and efficiency.
With signature clients like Churchill Downs, Sullivan & Cozart has been dominating the Kentucky landscape with quality workmanship and efficient management since 1947.
Ben Arnold, head of the family owned group, Arnold Construction, knows exactly what it takes to stay at the forefront of today's cutthroat real estate market.
LEADING BY EXAMPLE
Arnold Companies
CONSTRUCTION LEADERS TODAY T H E M A G A Z I N E F O R C A P TA I N S O F I N D U S T RY
www.constructionleaderstoday.com
Spring 2011 $24.95 USD $26.30 CAN
CONSTRUCTION LEADERS TODAY T H E M A G A Z I N E F O R C A P TA I N S O F I N D U S T RY www.constructionleaderstoday.com
D.F. Chase | 46 COMMERCIAL RENOVATION D.F. Chase accomplished the impossible – rebuilding a Nashville icon in only five months – by working around the clock and employing almost every sub in town.
in this issue 14 THE MAGAZINE FOR CAPTAINS OF INDUSTRY
CONSTRUCTION LEADERS TODAY
Editor-in-Chief Todd Weaver Editor Diana Doyle Executive Editor Jonathan Mack Assistant Editor Joseph Orange Creative Director Maria J. Owens Art Director Anthony Walker Director of Advertising Julian Vu Editorial Design Kris Apodaca Photography Editor Ian Palmer Video Director Susan Maybach Editorial Director Kate Darling Staff Writers Joel Cornell, Paige L. Hill Copy Editors Chelsea Muth, Mariya Bouraima Assistant Copy Editor Amy Roberts Content Directors Brandon McBride, Lisa Talbot, Cathy Bradford, Sophia Hartwick, Juan Stewart Vendor Relations Director Diana Stephens Vendor Relations Eric Miller, Steve Peters Advertising Sales Coordinator Patricia O’Brien Advertising Sales Director Peter Jostens Advertising Sales James Banks, Moe Kazemi, George Johnson Publisher Steve Reed Reprints/Circulation Anne Brewer
46 IN EVERY ISSUE
06 Editor’s Note 08 Guest Editorial 09 News/Events 10 Staff Editorial 12 Hot Products 102 Advertising Index NORTHEAST
oZ WORLD MEDIA, LLC 1100 H Street NW, Suite M Washington D.C. 20005 www.constructionleaderstoday.com Construction Leaders Today is an international quarterly B2B trade journal that services the construction industry in custom build, geothermal, green building, heavy, residential, commercial, civil engineering and specialty trade sectors. CLT has a readership of 200,000 C-Level executives within the construction industry. We do not accept subscription requests from the general public, however an abbreviated version is available on our website.
GREEN BUILDING
20 Therrien Waddell Construction Group Is it possible to build a house that produces as much energy as it consumes? That is was Jerry Therrien and his company Therrien Construction Group are finding out with a groudbreaking project to construct the Net-Zero House.
WEST GREEN BUILDING
24 DRI Companies The DRI Companies understand the unique aspects of the industry and match them with their own dedicated approach to fulfilling the roofing and solar needs of a wide range of clients across the U.S.
SPECIALTY
on the cover
The Harmony School of Art and Technology in Houston, Texas. General contracting by Solidarity Contracting. Photo by Gary Zvonkovic, Zvonkovic Photography.
26 Allied Construction Services This full-service, San Francisco-based general contractor, offers commercial and industrial tenant improvement services, roofing, waterproofing and painting solutions and provides expertise in seismic upgrades and residential and commercial remodeling.
30 92
INTERNATIONAL SOUTH
30 Hayes Constructors Celebrities, who shall remain nameless, are living in the luxury West End condominiums in Nashville, Tenn. And that’s just the beginning of the long list of clientele who want to live in the 10-story building which overlooks the entire country music capital.
32 Sullivan & Cozart What happens when Churchill Downs needs reconstruction, but the race must go on? For Sullivan & Cozart, it's two-fold: meetings at midnight and working until 4 a.m.
36 Solidarity Contracting For Levent Ulusal, success in the construction field is based on his “Triple E” concept: economy, environment and efficiency.
44 General Plumbing The close of World War II became a major boom to the U.S. work force, and gave the country’s burgeoning economy the manpower it needed to become one of the foremost modern economies on the planet. General Plumbing arose from this prosperous time.
46 D.F. Chase After the largest non-hurricane disaster in recorded U.S. history, this company rebuilt one of Nashville's most treasured icons, the Opryland Hotel by Gaylord, defeating all odds.
64 Vannoy Construction Far from its humble beginnings as a start-up roofing company 60 years ago, Vannoy Construction has become one of the fastest growing contractors in North Carolina.
72 Arnold Companies Within three years of college graduation, Ben Arnold found himself running one of the most successful independent property consultant companies in South Carolina.
80 Construction Enterprises Inc. CEI is a unique two-generation collaboration of multi-family construction; it is a union of the old and the new. The company was founded in 1977, in the days when deals were sealed with a hand shake, with no need for a team of lawyers.
SPECIALTY
92 Monolithic Constructors This company has perfected a new structural system that will change more than our buildings; it will change the way we view space and the future our space will inhabit.
98 India Globalization Capital Starting up in 2005, India Globalization Capital, Inc. (IGC) has since positioned itself as one of the strongest and fastest growing materials and infrastructure companies serving India and China.
PRODUCTS & SERVICES
57 Wolfe & Travis Electric Their project history is a veritable map of the most prominent buildings in Tennessee. Based out of the Wolfe family’s hometown of Nashville, Wolfe & Travis Electric, Inc. has been providing the area with nothing but the absolute finest in professional electrical work.
59 Nashville Carpet Center A leader in the carpet and flooring industry since its inception nearly four decades ago, many employees of Nashville Carpet Center have been in the industry even longer than that.
60 Sudberry Millwork Tennessee-based millwork provider, Sudberry Millwork has been providing the Nashville area, as well as states from coast to coast, with premiere custom architectural millwork and casework since 1977.
62 Sundek For over 25 years, Nashville-based SUNDEK by Superior Concrete Resurfacing, Inc., has served the state as a nationallyrecognized decorative concrete resurfacing company.
68 East Texas Canopy When it comes to protective coverings, custom canopies and paneling systems for both roofing and siding, East Texas Canopy, Inc. has remained a leader for over a quarter of a century.
69 Millcon Group Highly skilled artisans with decades of experience in EIFS craftsmanship make up Millcon Group's reliable team of construction specialists.
editor’s note
editor@ozworldmedia.com
paige l. hill With a background in technical writing, Joel excels at translating complex jargon into readable, vivid narratives. Past works include projects with the State Department, DOD, World Bank and many retail giants.
Rebecca enjoys a career of writing about critical issues and prominent business leaders of our time. Her work has been recognized both locally and nationally.
Amelia earned both a B.S. in journalism and anthropology from the University of Texas. Currently based in London, she writes for a variety of print and online publications both in Europe and the U.S.
marylyn simpson
TODD WEAVER
Well versed in topics ranging from green building to interior design, Paige’s career has taken her from Readers Digest UK to a variety of lifestyle magazines to hard daily news. She has a Master’s in English from the University of South Carolina-Columbia.
joel cornell
legislators to assume that plant operators are not carefully rethinking and evaluating their operations, locations, emergency backups, etc. is insulting. They should just stick to figuring out how to lower the national debt while not screwing over the wealthy who work hard to provide a livelihood to the middle class. And proposing to end all nuclear power and shut down all plants is just plain un-American. In this issue of CLT, we focused on general contractors in the South where development seems to be going quite well. From the complete renovation of an iconic hotel/convention center in recordtime (A Full Recovery, page 46) to upgrades to the renowned home of the Kentucky Derby, Churchill Downs, (Fast Track to Continued Strength, page 32) construction in the southern U.S. had its fair share of projects that kept many companies going throughout the recession. Also featured in this issue is the Net-Zero test home built right outside D.C. in Gaithersburg, Md. (Therrien Waddell and Their Net-Zero Wonder Home, page 20). This project, designed by Building Science Corp and monitored by National Institute of Standards and Technology, is part of a $2.6 million federal research project. We will be following the findings of this project as time goes on. Take our poll on constructionleaderstoday.com to weigh in on your opinion of our country’s reaction to the Japan nuclear disaster.
rebecca carnes
Dominating the news since March 11th is the nuclear debate. After Japan’s devastating earthquake snowballed into a series of nuclear explosions, ultimately resulting in a level seven disaster, the whole world is rethinking nuclear power. It had been 25 years since the last level seven nuclear meltdown and yet legislators and the public everywhere are proposing extreme measures like shutting down plants, banning future plants and reforming/creating new legislation pertaining to nuclear. This troubles me because Japan’s crisis was not an epic failure on the plant’s management, as some are claiming. Nor was it a factor of the plant’s age. As a matter of fact, the plant’s emergency shut-down procedure worked precisely as planned when the earthquake began. It actually surpassed the amount of energy it had been designed to withstand by 40 times. Rather, it was the 33-foot tsunami that knocked out the plant’s backup diesel generators for its coolant pumps that caused the partial meltdown that unfolded in front of our eyes on national television. Legislators and activists are totally overreacting. Perhaps building nuclear plants on a faultline may not have been the best idea, and future plants should be located in low-threat areas (like away from hurricane zones, tornado alley, etc.). Even so, what we have learned from Japan’s partial meltdown is that if the same protective measures had been taken to secure the generators, no meltdown would have occurred. They did a commendable job in the execution of the plant’s shutdown. Once again, this is an example of the government meddling too much in the private sector. For
amelia doenlen
Legislators Overreacting to Japan’s Nuclear Partial Meltdown in the Wake of Disaster
CONTRIBUTORS
With a diverse background in B2B magazine writing, ranging from framing to fashion, Marylyn brings a unique perspective to Industry Leaders Today. Her assignments have taken her everywhere, including New York Fashion Week
guest editorial
Final Budget Deal is Still Thin on Important Funding for Green Building In an effort to avoid the first shutdown of the federal government in 16 years, the Obama administration and Congress agreed on a framework to fund the government for the rest of fiscal year 2011. The bill contains broad spending reductions in virtually every government agency and enterprise. In total, the Continuing Resolution (CR) cuts $38.5 billion compared to the funding from 2010. Some reductions are particularly severe, including those in the area of green building, and should concern green building consumers and advocates. Below is a brief list of these cuts:
Bryan Howard Legislative Director U.S. Green Building Council
Federal Building Fund at the General Services Administration (GSA) Cuts: Funding reduced by $1.6 billion below FY2010 levels. The CR provides $82 million for construction and $280 million for repair of federal buildings overall. Damage: While this gives GSA some flexibility to continue multi-year construction and renovation projects, funding reductions of nearly 20 percent will have a dire effect on private sector construction and will impede the ability of the federal government to improve efficiency in their buildings.
could harm the development of technologies and practices that make buildings, systems and components more efficient, and less costly to consumers. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Cuts: Funding reduced by over $150 million below FY 2010 levels for the HOPE VI program, with only $100 million allocated in total. Damage: Cuts to this program will limit the ability to leverage private sector finance to transform existing distressed or blighted public housing into vibrant and livable communities. Sustainable Communities Initiative Cuts: Funding reduced by $50 million below FY 2010 levels, with $100 million allocated in total. Damage: This office supports a joint initiative with the Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and provides grants to communities to better integrate transportation, land use and housing efforts. A 33 percent reduction will impact these programmatic improvements substantially.
WITH A BACKGROUND These cuts are by-and-large an improvement IN FEDERAL POLICY, The Office of Energy Efficiency and over the House of Representatives proposal ADVOCACY AND Renewable Energy at the Department (H.R. 1), but the effect that they will have on priPOLITICAL AND ISSUE of Energy (EERE) vate sector construction is nonetheless chilling: Cuts: Funding reduced by $408 million belimiting private sector investment in infrastrucCAMPAIGNS, HOWARD low FY2010 levels, with $1.835 billion allocatture and building improvements and hampering OVERSEES THE USGBC’S ed in total. future innovation in the building industry won’t EDUCATION AND Damage: As home of the Building Technolodo much to create jobs, save energy and save ADVOCACY EFFORTS gies Program (BTP), these cuts to the EERE money — the very things that we need the most. BEFORE THE U.S. HOUSE AND SENATE. Legislative Update: HE HAS DEVELOPED AND IMPLEMENTED A Highlights of the Continuing Resolution to Fund Federal Government VARIETY OF SUCCESSFUL The final bipartisan legislation negotiated contains spending reductions, yet protects some economic STRATEGIES RESULTING and security interests. In total, the bill cuts $78.5 billion from the President's Fiscal Year 2011 request and is $37.6 billion below Fiscal Year 2010. Here are some of the bill's workforce and economic highlights: IN LEGISLATION IN THE CLEAN ENERGY AND • Job Training: The bill is $182 million below last year for state grants for adults, youth and dislocated workers. But, it provides $125 million for a new workforce innovation fund to encourage states and EDUCATION/TRAINING regions to engage in systemic reform to improve program outcomes. AREAS. • Job Corps: The bill maintains last year’s $1.7 billion and rescinds $75 million of construction funds • Small Business Administration: The bill maintains last year’s level, keeping federal small business lending programs at maximum levels and supporting technical assistance for owners. • Commodity Futures Trading Commission: The bill is $34 million above last year’s $168.8 million. It supports staffing increases and key IT investments to implement new regulation and oversight of registration, trading and clearance of over-the-counter swaps. It provides funding to better protect the average investor and increase safeguards against excessive speculation. • Securities and Exchange Commission: The bill is $74 million above last year’s $1.111 billion. It will improve the technology needed to police highly sophisticated market participants who currently trade at the speed of light and spend billions each year on their own IT infrastructures. • Occupational Safety and Health Administration: The bill maintains last year's level of $558.6 million. • National Labor Relations Board: The bill maintains last year’s level of $283 million.
news
Government Agencies Release Sustainability and Energy Scorecards “THIS SCORECARD SERVES AS AN IMPORTANT TOOL TO HELP DEVELOP TARGETS TO REDUCE WASTE AND INCREASE EFFICIENCY IN OUR OPERATIONS. WE ARE NOW ARMED WITH DATA SO THAT WE CAN ADDRESS AREAS NEEDING IMPROVEMENT AND EXPAND UPON AREAS WHERE WE’VE HAD SUCCESS.” Robin Heard Deputy Assistant Secretary USDA
Scope 1&2 GHG Emission Reduction Target Scope 3 GHG Emission Reduction Target Reduction in Energy Intensity Use of Renewable Energy Reduction in Potable Water Intensity Reduction in Fleet Petroleum Use Green Buildings
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= Somewhat Successful
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Fiscal Year 2010 Office of Management and Budget Scorecard on Sustainability/Energy
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WASHINGTON, D.C. — On April 19, 2011, 24 federal agencies and departments released, for the first time, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Sustainability and Energy Scorecards. These scorecards enable agencies to target and track the best opportunities to lead by example in clean energy; and to meet a range of energy, water, pollution and waste reduction targets. Through the OMB scorecard process, agencies are assessed on several sustainability areas: energy intensity, water intensity, fleet petroleum use, greenhouse gas pollution, green building practices and renewable energy use. Agencies are also evaluated on demonstrating continuous progress towards implementing additional statutory or executive order targets and goals reflected in their annual sustainability plans, such as green purchasing and electronic stewardship, fleet management and green buildings. The scorecard employs a simple evaluation system: green for success, yellow for mixed results and red for unsatisfactory. The White House’s Council on Environmental Quality and OMB will work with agency leadership to craft strategies for improvement and provide agencies with additional support and assistance as agencies begin to develop their sustainability plans for next year. Agency sustainability plans, which are required by executive order 13514, are due in June, and are posted publicly on agency websites. Construction Leaders Today has corralled all 23 agencies’ scorecards into one simple chart in order of successful to unsuccessful:
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staff editorial
The Free Frontier
Joel Cornell Staff Writer Industry Leaders Today
CORNELL TALKS ABOUT THE CONSTRUCTION AND ARCHITECTURE INDUSTRY'S PROGRESSION SINCE THE DAYS PRIOR TO ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION, AND ITS IMPACT ON COPYRIGHT AND TRADEMARK INFRINGEMENT.
10 Spring 2011
So long as a created thing has existed, so too has a group of people existed eager to plunder the goods for their own purposes, in one way or another. In the age of instantaneous communication and a neverbefore-seen capacity to create, store and transfer created things digitally, each and every industry, architecture especially, faces a new era of piracy. The incessant availability of architectural concepts, design ideas and inspiring lessons via the Internet means that styles, trends, emerging technologies and revolutionary concepts are spreading through the industry faster than we’ve ever seen before; perhaps too fast for many in the industry, considering the time involved in bringing projects to completion. But to what extent is the architecture and design of this digital age being thwarted by these new emerging technologies? Or will the freedom of information via Internet become today’s upand-coming architect’s saving grace? As young an industry as architecture truly is, with the American Institute of Architects being only 154 years old, it’s no surprise that copyright and trademark protection came equally as late. It wasn’t until December 1, 1990 that President George H.W. Bush signed into law the Architectural Works Copyright Protection Act (AWCPA), which resolved important disputes in U.S. intellectual property law that, at the time, did not extend into the protection of architectural works. Within the AWCPA, architecture finally had the protection from the new frontiers of piracy and copyright infringement of design that it needed. The act defined an “architectural work” as “the design of a building in any tangible medium of expression, including a building, architectural plans or drawings. The work includes the overall form, as well as the arrangement and composition of spaces and elements in the design, but does not include individual standard features.” Still, when so many modern styles of architecture are highly conceptual, how much protection does the “idea” of an architectural design garner? In tandem with the advancement of technology pushing architectural design, philoso-
phy and understanding to new levels, is the increase in the mediums through which we experience architecture and design. In aiming to create highly realistic and immersive environments, video game development studio Rockstar Games, Inc., most widely known for their controversial series of games, Grand Theft Auto, took to the streets of California’s cityscapes. In order to properly translate the unique architectural vistas of the West Coast into their fictional city of San Andreas, the environmental development teams took countless reference photographs which served as inspiration for the fictional cities. All names were changed, but the feel was kept in tact: Los Angeles became Los Santos; San Francisco turned into San Fiera; Las Vegas was now Las Venturas. In aiming to strike such similarities, it was no surprise when ESS Entertainment, Inc., a company which operates the real life Play Pen Gentlemen’s Club in East L.A., sued Rockstar for trademark infringement for using a building structure, logo, name and trade dress. The fictional East Los Santos venue was called Pig Pen and did portray similar color schemes, layout and signage featuring barely clad females; however, this fictional setting did not include a stone facade, valet stand or the gold columns that were [relatively] unique to the Play Pen. Think about the general form and architecture of strip clubs you’ve seen. Did Rockstar infringe on the unique trade dress, architecture and signage of the Play Pen? Or is it more likely that the thousands of strip joints across the U.S. just happen to look a lot alike? In winter 2008, the court ruled that Rockstar was not infringing on the trade dress or copyright on design that the Play Pen Gentlemen’s Club held. Though the two industries of architectural design and game design have rarely if ever before crossed paths in such a way, their junction in this case is truly a sign that architecture is going to expand across our lives in ways we’ve never seen before. As such, a transformation will and perhaps should occur in the manner in which we own design. Where do we draw the line between inspiration, homage and theft? As styles diverge more frequently, design as a whole becomes more and more conceptual, and it becomes increasingly difficult to draw stark lines around one architect’s concepts and design ideas. Architecture, as both a conceptualized form of artistry and as a firm method of design, is transforming daily across our lives, sectors and industries; whether or not these transformations will propel the industry or hinder it is a dilemma architects will solve themselves with every step forward.
hot products
we scoured the Energy, Tech, building and design markets to bring you our favorite new products to line your projects .
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12 Spring 2011
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hot products
Vinyl enthusiasts savor the tactile experience of their album collections: soaking up the artwork, reading the liner notes, feeling the record at their fingertips. If you’re like the music fanatic designers at Atocha Design, their latest work, The Record Cabinet, is the culmination of form and function for your collection. This handcrafted piece stores your records upright (as they should be) in softtouch gliding drawers. Careful consideration has gone into the design, engineering and construction to specifically accommodate the heavy weight of an LP collection. Each drawer fits 95 LPs.
Construction Leaders Today 13
hot products
4 staff pick!
14 Spring 2011
by SolTech www.soltechenergy.com/en/
After years of research, the Swiss company SolTech Energy developed these new, sleek and modern passive solar glass roofing tiles using their patented solar thermal light absorption technology. The glass tiles not only look amazing atop your home but have a longer life expectancy than conventional clay or concrete roofing materials. The system is designed to be integrated into the house’s existing energy system whether it is ground source heat pump, air heat pump, pellet boiler, oil boiler or electric boiler.
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hot products
by Aaron Smith Woodworking www.aaronsmithwoodworking.com
“Ambivalence is what you make of it,” said designer and master woodworker Aaron Smith. His latest design, Ambivalence, challenges the consumer to reconsider their conception of what defines handcrafted seating. Not exactly a chair and not quite a bench, we still can’t decide if it’s seating or a true work of art, a dilemma that lends itself to the latter. An entirely handmade piece of furniture, the seat and backrest are created from a single slab of Redwood burl, while the armrest and legs are carved out of Claro Walnut.
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by Arms & Barnes www.armsandbarnes.com
Arms & Barnes has aimed to create furniture that is totally and truly one-of-a-kind. This objective has been handily achieved through the firm’s use of the most unique materials available. The pair of tables was made from pieces which were removed from a building in Philadelphia. These beautiful pieces have been salvaged and made into a pair of end tables with custom steel frames. They can be put together, making a larger table, or separated to flank both sides of your favorite sofa or lounge chair.
Construction Leaders Today 15
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hot products
16 Spring 2011
by Vanessa Mitrani www.vanessamitrani.com
Exotic fish enthusiasts will derive the greatest pleasure from the aesthetic of these fluid, elegant, interpretations of the standard fish bowl. Through the fine, hand crafted pieces from Paris, France based designer and artist Vanessa Mitrani, the charming delicacy and uncommon felicity of her Aquarius collection now matches that of its inhabitants. They are made to be hung from a wall or ceiling, or to be placed on a pedestal, counter top or table. Vanessa Mitrani’s line of specialty aquariums are crafted with the best interests of both their denizens and their owners in mind.
hot products
by NL Architect www.ecowizer.com
Windmills today are less than aesthetically pleasing monoliths seen far away from where we live, work and play. Amsterdam-based NL Architect is changing this. Strong, affordable and silent, these sculptural windmills can be installed across an urban environment, all while completely avoiding sound, sight and air pollution. The turbines can also be connected to smart grids and combined with solar panel systems.
8 Construction Leaders Today 17
hot products
9 by Graham and Brown www.grahambrown.com
Bound to strike your fancy no matter what your taste or style may be, Graham and Brown is on a mission to revive a love of patterns. From simple elegance to funky florals to whimsical color schemes, their newest collections bring you affordable designer wallpaper that will make you never want to leave your home again. 18 Spring 2011
NORTHE A ST INSIDE: THERRIEN WADDELL
20 THERRIEN WADDELL
New 38,000-sq. ft,. 2-story Singleton Electric office building in Gaithersburg, Md. Photo courtesy of Therrien Waddell.
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THERRIEN WADDELL AND THEIR NET-ZERO WONDER HOME LIKE SOMETHING STRAIGHT OUT OF GEORGE ORWELL’S FUTURISTIC NOVEL, 1984, THE COMPUTER-RUN, ROBOT-INHABITED HOUSE WILL PRODUCE AS MUCH ENERGY AS IT CONSUMES. by Paige L. Hill
Therrien Waddell Construction Group was chosen among hundreds of construction companies nation-wide to construct the Net-Zero Energy Residential Test Facility, a home that will produce as much energy as a family of four uses. The Net-Zero House is part of a $2.6 million federal research project that will resemble something out of George Orwell’s futuristic sci-fi novel 1984 when completed, according to Jerry Therrien, LEED AP and company principal. “We are basically building a science lab that looks like a home,” Therrien said. “The home’s inhabitants are going to be ‘people simulators’ that produce heat and moisture like humans. Appliances will be set to turn on and off at predetermined intervals.” The 2,700 sq. ft. wood-framed house with detached, electric-car-ready garage will sit on a small hill on the North end of the campus of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). This project will enable NIST to develop and demonstrate measurement science needed to achieve net-zero energy residential homes. The federal research site is located just outside Washington, D.C. in Gaithersburg, Md., where Therrien Waddell is also located. “We thought it was important for a local company to be involved in this project and with our dedication to sustainable construction practices, we wanted it to be us,” Therrien said. “We are working on a project that will exceed LEED Platinum standards 20 Spring 2011
and is right in our backyard.” The house was designed by Building Science Corp. out of Somerville, Mass. and was funded through federal stimulus money. On March 25th, NIST conducted a groundbreaking ceremony attended by state, county and federal officials on campus. The house will be completed over the next 15 months; and, that generous timeline will involve constant monitoring by project architects, engineers, LEED providers and NIST. “If this was a normal project, we’d say ‘no problem.’ But since each stage of construction is going to be carefully inspected, speedy progress will be a challenge,” Donnie Waddell said, Therrien Waddell principal and director of operations. Engineers from NIST will track how well the house is maintaining airtight levels, energy use and solar energy generation. The structure is designed to include air tight construction methods and advanced framing techniques. A ventilation system providing tempered and filtered air will replace indoor air with outdoor air every three hours. The house will be constructed with multiple heating and cooling system options. At completion, each system will be individually operated and monitored by a team of scientists over time. The house will include energy-saving or energyproducing products commercially available to any homeowner in the U.S. To reach net-zero,
the test house will draw energy from an array of solar PV and solar thermal panels on the roof. The completed home is expected to not only surpass LEED for Homes Platinum certification, but also EPA’s airPLUS certification. “Right now, some of the technology is expensive and the payback period may be long,” Therrien said. “But the reality is that the cost of energy is not getting any cheaper and being a part of highefficiency development and sustainable practices is to one’s advantage.” Inside, state-of-the-art robots will be used to simulate human residents, emitting body heat and moisture. Remotely controlled appliances and devices will be operated on carefully timed schedules simulating actual use. Scientists will monitor the house energy performance over the course of a year. After the first year of analysis, NIST will be able to provide a guide for future green building technologies and a cost estimate for high-efficiency homes. The ultimate goal is to develop standards to spur the consumer market in these highly advanced homes. “We see our involvement in the Net-Zero project as very important to the future of our company,” Waddell said. “We are working in a very forward-thinking community and proving that our construction company is at the forefront of green construction techniques is going to be huge.”CLT
OPPOSITE PAGE: Net-zero research house, Gaithersburg, Md. Designed by the architects at Building Science Corp in conjunction with National Institute of Standards and Technology, Therrien Waddell's construction schedule has been expanded across 15 months to allow for rigorous testing and monitoring by NIST researchers. Rendering by Building Science Corp. THIS PAGE: (ABOVE) Audi new car dealership, 35,000 sq. ft. (LEFT) Stanford Overlook, Columbia, Md. This is a 45,000 sq. ft., four-story office building. Photos courtesy of Therrien Waddell.
ALCOA CONCRETE & MASONRY Alcoa Concrete & Masonry, Inc. is a proud partner and subcontractor for Therrien Waddell Construction Group. Over the years Alcoa has built a strong relationship over numerous projects. They are an experienced organization that prides itself on efficiency and superior quality. Alcoa services the Maryland, D.C. and Virginia area. Unlike their competitors, Alcoa has the ability to install many types of concrete and masonry work, as well as steel buildings from the ground up. For more information, visit www. alcoacm.com or call 301-699-9300.
SENATE MASONRY Senate Masonry, Inc. is a full-service masonry firm serving D.C., Maryland, and Virginia. Delivering a variety of services to clients in the commercial and residential construction industry, Senate performs new construction, renovation and supporting services for interior fitout and HVAC equipment upgrades. For more information, visit www. senatemasonry.com or call 301-816-0013. Construction Leaders Today 21
WEST 24 DRI COMPANIES 26 ALLIED CONSTRUCTION SERVICES
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BUILDING A NATION OF POWER
THE DRI COMPANIES AND THEIR SUBSIDIARY DRI ENERGY HAVE BEEN LEADING THE CHARGE THROUGHOUT THE NATION TOWARDS PRACTICAL, DURABLE SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEM SOLUTIONS by Joel Cornell
The solar energy industry today is incredibly unique in its growth, scope and usefulness as a means to escape a reliance on other less sustainable and more environmentally harmful energy production methods. The DRI Companies understands the unique aspects of the industry, and matches it with their own unique dedicated approach to fulfilling the roofing and solar needs of a wide range of clients across the U.S. The DRI Companies, headquarted in Irvine, Calif., provides first-class roofing and solar PV services to Fortune 500 clients around the country. Their focus on building relationships before they build anything else has kept the company at the forefront of the industry, and has fostered the rapid growth they have experienced since their founding. Their relationships with clients, vendors and partners, such as Habitat for Humanity, Sun Edison, IBM, Lumeta, NASA, Lockheed Martin and the California Institute of Technology have allowed them to maintain a scope of services that has set them apart throughout the West Coast and beyond. Outside their offices in Irvine, Calif., the company maintains six additional offices 24 Spring 2011
throughout the region. Their proximity to their clients, small and large, has granted them unique access to clients across many sectors, including education, industrial, retail, financial, healthcare and federal. The DRI Companies’ breadth of scope has given them the unique portfolio that matches their dedication to quality and client alike. Their more than 400 employees are some of the most qualified working in the region today. The company’s management staff maintains over 140 years of combined experience. “Our continuing success is largely a result of our adherence to our long held core values,” said Timothy Davey, CEO. “Safety, for both our own employees and all others who are impacted by our operations, remains our most closely held core value. Providing outstanding project execution in all we do, building enduring relationships internally and externally and very importantly, simply doing what we say we’ll do round out the core values that continue to guide all of our activities.” DRI Commercial, the original mainstay of the company’s foundation, has seen nothing but long-term success because they understand that a quality job means a lot more than a
roof that won’t leak. Through better planning and management, safer project sites, clear communication and aggressive scheduling, the company acts as a single source for all their clients’ needs. This helps to ensure full accountability on the part of The DRI Companies, as well as great convenience for the clients, many of whom are equally as spread out across the map as DRI. As a wholly owned subsidiary of The DRI Companies, DRI Energy brings together the company’s decades of roofing and construction experience with world-class solar expertise in order to provide clients with better designed, better constructed solar energy projects. Through a rigorous analysis of each client’s solar potential, the broad scope of the company can determine the best solution available. Through complete and comprehensive solar project design and construction services, DRI Energy is capable of designing, constructing, installing and maintaining roof, canopy and ground mounted solar PV arrays or any conceivable combination therein. The DRI Companies as a whole understand the benefits of upfront analysis and planning, combined with established processes and procedures
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supporting the project along every step of the way. This results in high-quality, long-lasting energy solutions for clients every time. Value engineering is process that The DRI Companies have adhered to since their inception. DRI Energy analyzes their clients’ situations to determine not necessarily the best and brightest in technology, because at times that is not always the ideal solution. Instead, the company remains technologically agnostic because different customers require different solutions. Through their lengthy analysis of regulations, permitting requirements, usage, building structure and layout, land availability, site orientation and a wide array of other criteria, the company can advise their clients on the most appropriate solution in terms of economic returns and long-term viability. In 2010, DRI Energy completed just such a project for the county of San Bernardino, at the Jerry Lewis High Desert Government Center in Hesperia, Calif. The brand new $20 million,
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66,000 sq. ft. building houses nearly a dozen county departments. The project was designed to achieve LEED-Gold certification, largely due to the accomplishments of The DRI Companies. The combined roof and carport mounted system is expected to produce 473 mW annually and will offset nearly 86 percent of the annual energy usage for the new government facility. “This is a marquee project, providing a high quality home to county departments,” said Steve Kelley, executive vice president. “Helping a municipal government building ‘go green’ while employing local labor demonstrated the positive effects of solar for the community’s economy.” DRI Energy leverages the company’s 30-plus years of roofing and construction experience in setting new industry standards for quality solar solutions and construction. Their dedication to schedule, budget and quality have helped spread their unique style of innovation for every conceivable application, in every conceivable place. CLT
APPLIED ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES Midwest-based Applied Energy Technologies (AET) is a designer and producer of solar racking systems. The racks produced by AET are some of the highest-quality and diverse racks available to the solar industry, including: roof ballast racks, frameless module racks, pitched roof rail systems and ground mount racks. AET also produces customized solar racking solutions for large-scale commercial projects. Many of these unique customized solutions require extra engineering. A recent custom commercial installation in Hawaii required a solar rack that could withstand the high salinity of the island air. Typical solar racks are constructed from aluminum or steel, which are prone to rusting and quick breakdown. To counter this problem, AET developed the Rayport series of solar racks which utilizes stainless steel construction to withstand a diverse range of hostile environments. The stainless steel construction is also important to grounding, to help protect panels from electrical surges caused by lightning strikes. AET’s specialized designs are what attracted DRI Energy to consult AET for a specialized product. DRI’s need for a stainless racking solution eventually resulted in the current working relationship between AET and DRI. AET's vice president of business development, Aaron Faust, said working with DRI has been a great experience. Faust considers DRI highly professional, taking time to engage in pre-build sitewalks and the on-site builds. AET looks forward to continuing this successful partnership between the two companies for future projects. AET’s racks are not only the toughest in the market, they are also some of the most compatible. AET-produced racks are universally sized to fit all solar panels, and all racks are backed by a 15-year limited warranty. AET also currently distributes their racks all across North America. For more information, visit www.aetenergy.com.
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ALLIED CONSTRUCTION SERVICE
ACS OFFERS COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL TENANT IMPROVEMENT SERVICES, ROOFING, WATERPROOFING AND PAINTING SOLUTIONS FOR BUILDING OWNERS AND MANAGERS. THEY'VE BEEN SERVING NORTHERN CALIFORNIA FOR THE PAST 20 YEARS. by Joan Tupponce
A full-service general contractor, CSRW Inc., (dba Allied Construction Service), offers commercial and industrial tenant improvement services, roofing, waterproofing and painting solutions in New Mexico, Washington, Arizona and California. Founded in 2002, the San Francisco Bay area contractor began offering roofing and waterproofing services. President Jason Rittenbach joined the family business in 2007, bringing an expertise in seismic upgrades and residential and commercial remodeling. “It was an opportunity for us to come together with one client base,” Rittenbach said. “We could provide our knowledge in general construction and continue to do roofing and waterproofing,” he said. Allied Construction provides a range of high-quality services to commercial building operators and offers an honest opinion, budgetary information and expert installation to meet the needs of clients. As the U.S. continues to adopt green building concepts, Rittenbach is seeing an increased interest in Cool Roof systems. “A cool roof lowers the work load of the air conditioning equipment, reducing energy consumption and maintenance costs. Studies have shown that the cool roof can reduce energy demands in buildings by up to 50 per 26 Spring 2011
cent,” he says. Allied installed a cool roof on a large California manufacturing facility. “We were able to do it for half the cost of a conventional roof and save energy,” Rittenbach said. The roofing system consists of storm shield fluid-applied polyester reinforced roofing membrane. “It goes on more easily than other conventional roofing systems,” Rittenbach said. “Whenever you are able to save time, it transfers into saving money for the client.” Installing the 60,000 sq. ft. roof system on the one-story building was a complicated process because the plant contained several hazardous chemicals, used in the computer chip manufacturing process. When chemicals were being delivered to the plant, Allied had to evacuate those areas. Rittenbach said that was just one of the obstacles they had to overcome. Equipment on the roof such as conduits, wires and pipes couldn’t be moved for the installation because they were used to clean the air in the building. “It was a very busy roof,” Rittenbach said. Allied has been using the cool roof system since 1995. “It’s starting to receive a lot more recognition,” Rittenbach said. “People are recognizing that
it’s a good system, especially with the price of asphalt.” Their cool roof system is compliant with California’s Title 24 regulations that require commercial roofs to LEED certified and Energy Star approved. A highly reflective cool roof coating reflects up to 90 percent of the heat from the sun. In the peak of summer when temperatures soar, a cool roof remains 10 to 20 degrees above the ambient temperature, compared to a traditional root which would be at least 50 degrees above ambient. Cool Roofs are also renewable. “Instead of starting from scratch every 10 to 15 years you are able to come back and reapply the acrylic coating,” Rittenbach said. “It then becomes sustainable which is unusual with roofs. You usually just tear them off.” This type of roofing system is one of Rittenbach’s favorites. “There is an ease of installation,” he says. “It’s more affordable for the client and it has long-term sustainability. There is no roof tear off so there is nothing going into a landfill.” In addition to roofing, Allied also specializes in tenant improvement, high-rise window caulking, waterproofing and construction management. In 2010, Allied teamed with a Washingtonbased contractor on a project for the Grand Coulee Dam. The $1 million re-roofing job was
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LEFT: Allied Construction provides waterproofing and other mainentance solutions to buildings of all sizes. Photo courtesy of Allied Construction. RIGHT: Allied selects the finest subcontractors such as Concord Sheet Metal to provide a variety of roofing services. Photo courtesy of Concord Sheet Metal.
unique because of its size. “We had to run two shifts every day to meet the government’s deadline and complete the project within their timeline,” Rittenbach said. “We were up against intermittent rain showers as well as constraints regarding asbestos and lead paint. That slowed the project down and made it challenging.” Allied continues to grow, even in a lackluster economy. “We are trying to focus and sustain growth on the government side of the business,” Rittenbach said. In the private sector, Allied is busy with commercial roofing and tenant improvement projects. “We take care of 35 roofs on shopping centers in northern California,” Rittenbach said. “Those same property managers are giving us the opportunity to do work for them inside those spaces.” Rittenbach sees Allied’s growth as a by-product of the company’s business philosophy and honesty with clients. “We try very hard to listen to the client and understand their needs,” he said. “We create a solution that will match those needs. It’s all about building relationships. Longstanding
relationships make the company grow.” Rittenbach also values the life lessons he learned in the Marines and lets these principles help guide Allied Construction. “I was able to observe good and bad leadership. Now I am able to apply those principles that I thought worked and grow people organically in the organization and empower them. We learn from our mistakes and rally from our success.” CLT
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CONCORD SHEET METAL PRODUCTS Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, Concord Sheet Metal is a manufacturer of fabricated sheet metal products, specializing in highend copper and stainless steel for residential, commercial and municipal customers. From roof flashings to architectural elements, Concord Sheet Metal does it all working with aluminum, copper, galvanized, prepainted metal, stainless steel and zinc. On every order, quality and service are their primary goals. Concord Sheet Metal has shipped many custom gutters — including their patented Eclipse Millennium model — radiused gutters, countertops and decorative chimney tops across the United States, Canada, Israel and the Virgin Islands. Concord Sheet Metal has provided Alllied Construction Services with top-of-the-line sheet metal products on many projects including the Vacaville, Calif. Transit Center Clock Tower (left). They have also worked together on several projects of aluminum cladding, copper and Kynar® roof panel systems. Ron Wessels, CSM manager, describes Allied Construction Services as highly professional and one of CSM’s best customers to work with. To view more beautiful products fabricated by Concord Sheet Metal, or for more information, visit www.concordsheetmetal.com, or call 1-800-799-1900.
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SOUTH 30 HAYES CONSTRUCTORS 32 SULLIVAN & COZART 36 SOLIDARITY CONTRACTING 44 GENERAL PLUMBING 46 D.F. CHASE 64 VANNOY CONSTRUCTION 72 THE ARNOLD COMPANIES 80 CONSTRUCTION ENTERPRISES, INC.
The Conservatory Bar at the newly-renovated Gaylord Opryland Hotel. Construction by D.F. Chase. Photo courtesy of the Gaylord Opryland Hotel.
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HAYES CONSTRUCTORS, INC. RUNS THE GAMUT BETWEEN LUXURY AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING by Paige L. Hill
There are many fine people living in the luxury West End condominiums in Nashville, Tenn., according to Olin Funderburk, vice president of Hayes Constructors Inc., the company that conceptualized and built the project. There is a list of clientele who want to live in the 10-story building, which overlooks the country music capital at the corner of 31st Avenue and the popular West End Avenue “The view is great and the higher you go up in the building the more expensive that view gets,” Funderburk said. Healthcare professionals, sports figures, executives and CEO’s of Nashville-based businesses live in the West End. But not all Hayes’ projects are luxury dwelling units. Some are conventional or affordable apartments. “We want their homes to be just as special,” Funderburk said. One of their recently opened affordable housing projects, Caspian Hills, is located in a small town in mid-Tennessee, Fairview. The developer, Aslan, took his name from 30 Spring 2011
the main character of the popular children’s book series The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis; hence, the name “Caspian Hills” was added to reflect another character, Prince Caspian. He is described as the “embodiment of true restoration after corruption.” The 88-unit townhouse-style buildings were completed in 2010 for families whose household income does not exceed $45,180 per year. Funderburk said the project was tightly focused on families, so the development includes a swimming pool, picnic area and playground on the premises. Everything about Caspian Hills is meant to encourage a community feeling including a centrallylocated clubhouse and a pets welcome policy. “This is an attractive project with a lot of extras built in – like an on-site media business center, high-speed internet and the water is already included in the rent,” Funderburk said. “This is the kind of place where people walk their dogs and go swimming.”
One of Funderburk’s main responsibilities is obtaining the tax credits needed to construct affordable housing projects. The move to building more affordable housing came at a suitable moment in the housing market shift for their clientele, as well. Though the vice president has been with the construction company for only the last six years, Hayes Constructors can boast a long history in Tennessee. John Coleman Hayes got his start in the early 1960’s engineering the construction of small regional airports in nearly all 95 counties in Tennessee. In 1973, the Hayes Companies were born. Hayes Constructors is a full-service general contractor licensed in multiple southeastern states with unlimited general contractor licenses. They have renowned in-house capabilities according to Funderburk having archictects, engineers, builders all under one roof at their Nashville headquarters. Hayes Constructors has affiliate companies specializing in development, architecture
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and engineering under one roof, so that clients benefit from a complete design/build experience in one visit. Hayes can also boast a current construction bonding program in place, meaning they are capable of meeting the surety requirements of financial lenders and government agencies in-house, too. Though Hayes main focus in recent years has been local affordable housing, Funderburk said their projects have ranged from industrial to commercial, from retail to warehouses, and finally, to the high-end projects like West End. “The West End was a dream of Mr. Hayes and his life-long friend who was the architect,” Funderburk said. Hayes and architect, Boyd Bogle III began drawing plans in 2002 for a luxury condominium project situated near Vanderbilt University and overlooking downtown Nashville. Hayes’ former partner,
David Smith, was also a partner in the West End dream, but passed away before the project was completed. The building hosts a mixture of one, two, and three-bedroom units, with penthouse units on the top two floors. The aesthetics of the building’s exterior is meant to complement the manyneighborhoods of Nashville: red brick, lush landscaping and a skyscraper’s daunting presence. Located in the Midtown neighborhood, the condominiums are just a short walk to some of Nashville’s finest restaurants, the best of the retail, lively outdoor cafes and art museums. Midtown is also home to many of Nashville’s celebrated outdoor music and arts festivals, which are frequently hosted at the Parthenon outdoor concert facility. West End is also near Centennial Park where the Centennial Sportsplex hosts an Olympic-sized aquatic
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facility, indoor heated tennis courts, an ice skating rink and state-of-the-art fitness facility. “This is really an ‘everything you could want’ kind of package, living at the West End,” Funderburk said. The condo prices range from $350,000 to $1.5 million in price. “We think high-end living is starting to come back, as well, with the housing market taking a better turn,” Funderburk said. Next up for Hayes Constructors is a string of Dollar General stores in various states. The affordable retail chain is based out of Goodletsville, and as is Hayes’ style, the construction firm is up for anything on their wide spectrum of projects. “This would be another new avenue for us, yes, but we like the local aspect and it will be a challenge to make it different and new,” Funderburk said.
OPPOSITE: West End Condominiums, Nashville, Tenn. This luxury condo building is host to some of Nashville's biggest names. Units range from the $350,000 to $1.5 million for the penthouse units. THIS PAGE: Bathrooms and kitchens feature marble and custom cabinetry. Photos courtesy of West End Condos
ORTEX PEST CONTROL Ortex pest Control is family owned and operated termite and pest control company servicing Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, and Missouri since 1952. For more than for 50 years Ortex has been a leader in pre-treats, conventional termite application, pest control, wildlife, expert waterproofing, and foundation repairs. Ortex services commercial and residential clients and works closely with builders such as Hayes Construction Company and many others. We also offer extended coverage on all termite work that is preformed. All chemicals used are EPA registered and meet FHA/VA standards. For more information, please visit www.ortexpest.com
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THE FAST TRACK TO CONTINUED STRENGTH AND SUCCESS SULLIVAN & COZART DOMINATES THE KENTUCKY LANDSCAPE WITH SIGNATURE PROJECTS THAT ECHO THE COMPANY’S DEDICATION TO QUALITY WORKMANSHIP AND EFFICIENT MANAGEMENT. THEY GO THE EXTRA MILE FOR EACH CLIENT AND AS A RESULT ENJOY STRONG REPEAT BUSINESS THAT HAS PROPELLED THEM TO THE FOREFRONT OF THE CONSTRUCTION SCENE THROUGHOUT KENTUCKY AND SOUTHERN INDIANA. by Rebecca Rodriguez
What does a construction company working with a marquis client like Churchill Downs, home of the Kentucky Derby, do when reconstruction work has just started, but the race must go on? The answer for Sullivan & Cozart, Inc. was to run two shifts for the entire project while holding meetings at midnight and working until 4 a.m. The 2003, $120 million project required rebuilding Churchill Downs with a more modern style under the stipulations that the project be completed by 2005 and the 2004 derby be run without a hitch. “This monumental task for such a high-profile client required a lot of finesse with scheduling and working off-hours,” Dan Polston said, executive vice president of Sullivan & Cozart. “We worked around when the track was open,” Polston said. “We had to complete this 32 Spring 2011
400,000 sq. ft. facility in a certain timeframe while working around their major source of revenue. If they missed the derby, they would lose millions of dollars in that weekend. Overall, there were no major hiccups and we had a great group of subcontractors who did what they needed to do. Our staff worked 16 hours per day for a majority of the project with the mindset that we have to make these goals; everyone is on this team and we’re going to get it done.” Sullivan & Cozart has a long history with Churchill Downs that stretches back to 1933 when the company first opened its doors and struck its first nail into wood. Tucked into the heart of Louisville, Ky., Sullivan & Cozart has peppered the landscape of its home state with buildings large and small. The turnkey company handles a full spectrum of construction services,
including construction management, general contracting and design/build. The business focuses on 60 percent commercial, 30 percent industrial and 10 percent institutional jobs. While the company has worked with many high-profile clients, it tackles small projects as well; Sullivan & Cozart will gladly renovate a high school locker room for $5,000. Surviving the recession has meant being diversified. But sometimes it’s difficult to nab the smaller scale projects as well as the big, high-profile ones. “It’s a constant battle. We have a great reputation and they see us on large, marquis projects. But this isn’t the case. We are contracting company, and in order to be successful we need to be able to take on projects of all sizes. We’ve been doing work for several years for some local private high schools performing projects that can range from a small locker
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LEFT: Advanced Therapy Center's therapy pool. The salt water pool is used for medically fragile children that are residents of the center. BELOW: Home of the Innocents Campus in downtown Louisville, Ky. All the buildings are accessible from an interior connector. Photos courtesy of Sullivan & Cozart.
room renovation to a 280,000 sq. ft. athletic facility expansion. We’re not just a large corporate contractor," Polston said. “When we are in the bid market and see that our company is not on a list of original bidders, we’ll call up the architects and find out why. Most of the time the answer is not that we were not considered; due to our reputation and the general perception, they thought we would not be interested in a smaller project. We fight that battle all the time." Architects are an integral part of the livelihood of their business, he said. They are a roadway into any project and can make or break a construction company’s reputation. A good relationship with architects is a great
source of word-of-mouth clientele. The ultimate goal is to have these clients turn into repeat customers, which makes up about 60 percent of their business. Developing a solid base of repeat customers is about building relationships and trust. “When we establish a budget, we stick to it. We’re not unrealistic. We’re very honest about what a project costs. Our philosophy is that when an owner selects to negotiate a project with us, they are hiring us to guide them through a successful project that will be estimated and budgeted correctly and built within the schedule. We are trusted with their money, and if the cost comes in under the budget, we give the savings back to them. There’s no split because it’s their money. A lot of contractors will split the savings,” Polston said. “There is very little turnover at the company which adds to our stability and strength. We have about 40 core employees, of whom several have worked with the company for the past 40 years,” Polston said, who has been with the company for 15 years. “I would not classify Sullivan & Cozart as a large contractor. Some of our competitors have twice as many people. We have good people and hard workers. Sullivan & Cozart was founded as successor to the L.W. Hancock Company, which had been in existence since the early 1900s. Incorporated on July 1, 1947, under the management of Dan J. Sullivan, Sr., the company has become one of Kentucky’s premier general contractors. The company has switched hands and currently has three officers, including Polston, all of whom have their roots firmly set in Kentucky. Michael A. Thorpe serves as president and CEO of the company; he has been with Sullivan & Cozart since 1970. Thorpe graduated from Notre Dame in 1967 with a bachelor’s in civil engineering and went on to earn a
master’s in civil engineering from the University of Kentucky in 1968. Polston earned a bachelor’s in construction engineering from Eastern Kentucky University in 1987 with a minor in business management. Robert A Lawrence, secretary-treasurer, has been with the company since 1970; he holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting and an MBA from the University of Louisville. “We’ve been involved in running the company now for the past 40 years. We have management longevity and some of our superintendents have worked with us for over 30 years. Since I’ve been here we haven’t hired a new superintendent,” Polston said. “Our management style is strong. We don’t micromanage. We rely on our project managers and superintendents to make good decisions, so we give them a lot of rope.” The company prefers to hire from within, but will bring on a new project manager who happens to be young and willing to work hard while learning the business. “We like to train our project managers to our style of building,” Polston said. Their onsite supervisors live in different counties throughout Kentucky and southern Indiana and are called to work depending on where they live. The company’s work generally falls within an hour’s reach of home. During hard economic times, projects have held strong, with enough falling within a 100-mile radius
L&W CONSTRUCTION L&W Construction is a swimming pool firm that serves Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky and Illinois. Working with Sullivan & Cozart throughout the entire design/build process , L&W developed the specialized swimming pool for Home of the Innocence. Special features include a water play area, special lighting, underwater sound and specialized safety components that accommodate the needs of the disabled children. L&W is proud to work with Sullivan & Cozart and congratulates them on their success. For more information, please visit www.lwconstruction.com
M&M COSMETIC SEALENTS John W. McFarland, III formed M&M Cosmetic Sealants in 2002 to specialize in the application of joint sealants, waterproofing, masonry restoration and epoxy floor systems. M&M provides experienced professional applicators in specified products for the craft, while meeting budgets mandated by today’s competitive construction market. M&M is a fully insured, licensed and bonded member of Builders Exchange and B.B.B. with liability covered by ANSAC and worker’s comp by A.G.C. For more information, call 502-445-8612. Construction Leaders Today 33
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THIS PAGE Track side of Churchill Downs on Kentucky Derby day, 2005. OPPOSITE: View from outside Churchill Downs on Kentucky Derby day 2005. All photos courtesty of Sullivan & Cozart
to keep them busy. Sullivan & Cozart has worked with some of the biggest names in the area: Churchill Downs, The Preservation on the Main for Humana, Centennial Hub for UPS and Home of the Innocents are just a few of their biggest projects. Based in Louisville, Home of the Innocents is a private, non-profit agency that has for over 130 years served autistic children who are abused, abandoned, neglected and medically fragile. In 1999, Sullivan & Cozart began working on Phase I of a major construction project for the Home of the Innocents, including the Pediatric Convalescent Center. The center is the only one of its kind in the nation and features 30
skilled nursing beds. The $20 million, 98,000 sq. ft. Phase I project also included five shelter cottages, an administrative building and a building for unwed teenage mothers. Phase I was completed in 2000. Phase II started in 2009 and was completed during the winter of 2011. Phase II was a $28 million project that included a two-story wing to the pediatric care center, medical assessment center and clinic, pharmacy, two-story shelter cottage and an advanced therapy center with an aquatic pool and therapy gymnasium. The Home of the Innocents has room to grow and Polston sees more job potential there in the future. “They’re one of our favorite organizations to work for; we’ve even done some pro bono
work for them. We hold a golf fundraiser every two years to show our support,” Polston said. “Phase II lasted two years and is one of our proudest signature projects.” Sullivan & Cozart’s work with the Home of the Innocents is a prime example of the level of quality and skill that goes into major projects as well as small jobs. The company’s dedication to offering the best construction at the best price is what keeps customers coming back. Jobs look solid on the horizon and Sullivan & Cozart stands tall as the premier contractor/ construction manager in the Louisville area. With signature projects sprinkled like gems throughout Kentucky and southern Indiana, Sullivan & Cozart will always shine strong. CLT
PADGETT, INC. In 1962, Padgett, Inc. a full-service crane rental, machinery moving, rigging, steel fabrication and erection company was founded by Jim Padgett in a 25 by 50 foot welding shop located in New Albany, Ind. with one truck and one welder. Padget soon expanded into crane service by building his own boom truck. The business grew to larger buildings, field crews, staff and more cranes and forklifts. In 1982 Padgett, Inc. opened a custom-built steel products manufacturing facility. With more than 50 mobile cranes, professionally operated and maintained, Padgett has the largest, most technologically advanced crane equipment in the area. Padgett’s machinery and heavy rigging divisions handle more machinery and equipment in one month than most companies do in a year and they have a fully equipped, 85,000 sq. ft. turkey fabrication shop. Today, Padgett, Inc. operates on more than 50 acres with a combined space of offices and buildings of more than 230,000 sq. ft. Padgett's philosophy of hard work, well-maintained equipment and honest and fair treatment of customers and employees has enabled the business to continually grow. The team of qualified and skilled employees have helped Padgett, Inc. earn its reputation as “best in class” within the region. For more information on Padgett, Inc. visit www.padgett-inc.com 34 Spring 2011
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Located in Houston, Texas, Solidarity Contracting handles general contracting, architectural and engineering consulting, and structural design mostly in the area of educational facilities, including college buildings, K-12 schools and daycare centers. by Rebecca Rodriguez
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or Levent Ulusal, president of Solidarity Contracting LLC, success in the construction field is based on his “Triple E” concept: economy, environment and efficiency. He keeps his margins minimal on bids, is dedicated to preserving the environment and he can mobilize rapidly for any project to be completed within a limited time frame. When the Harmony School of Art and Technology in Houston, Texas, needed to complete a new arts building in one year, the school turned to Solidarity Contracting. It was a design/build job done on a four-month design process schedule and an eight-month construction schedule. The 74,000 sq. ft. building opened in time for this past fall semester. It features music halls, individual practice rooms, art classrooms and two kiln rooms for glass and ceramic work. The 3.5-acre lot is situated across from the city’s stadium and close to the museum district. It was a quick job on a limited budget, but Solidarity retained the quality of craftsmanship for which they are known. “We design and build according to the needs of the owners so the buildings are solid 30 to 50 years down the road. We want people to THIS PAGE: The Harmony School of Art and Technology in Houston, Texas is a K-8 charter school. This 74,000 sq. ft. facility was constructed from composite steel and features a stucco/EIFS combination exterior with a TPO roof system. The project took four months for design services and eight months for construction. The building includes classrooms, offices, science and computer labs, a cafeteria, competition-sized gym, music labs, individual practice rooms, ceramic lab, glassworks lab, art lab and library. The architects were PBK Architects and Ron Bailey. MEP services by PBK Architects.
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feel comfortable. Our job is to make them feel at home by the way we use the property, such as creating warmth with color schemes and the paints. They feel at home and have a sense of belonging,” Ulusal said. Ulusal earned his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering in his homeland of Turkey and came to the United States in 2000 to earn an MBA in corporate finance. He worked in investment banking and accounting for eight years, but has always been interested in construction. In 2009, Ulusal joined Solidarity and later bought the entire company. His experience in the financial world has helped him in construction because he knows the language of banking while enjoying the fundamental nature of the construction business. “It has feeling. You produce something that will be around longer than your lifetime. That makes construction different from other jobs,” he said. His buildings, made with signature grand facades, are well recognized in Texas because of their impressive beauty and prominent locations throughout the state. A current project for the Harmony School in Austin is an 81,000 sq. ft. political science building that is powerful and regal in nature with a façade styled after the White House. THIS PAGE: Harmony School of Art and Technology. Houston, Texas. OPPOSITE PAGE: Solidarity has a company-wide training and education policy that employs outside industry experts. Suleyman Ucpinar, trainer (right) and Alexis Urbina, trainee,(left) discuss mechanical engineering systems.
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THIS PAGE: Harmony School of Art and Technology. Houston, Texas.
“We are proud of what we’re trying to accomplish with the look and taste of the White House project. It will have white marble similar to that of the real White House and it will give students a sense of belonging to the nation,” he said. About 60 percent of Solidarity’s business is repeat or word-of-mouth, including a newly completed building for North American College in Houston. The highly visible building is located next to a major highway, generating much interest from new clients. Solidarity constructed the first educational building for the new campus. The 49,000 sq. ft. building features luxurious finishes including a natural stone façade. The company builds façades that prompt viewers to notice their signature style of grandeur. “People see one of our buildings and can say it was built by us,” Ulusal said. “We use the highest quality materials in our construction operation and are always sure to add vivid colors in our educational buildings.” Solidarity does not employ many laborers; instead, the company subcontracts on most jobs. With a broad range of subcontractors
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in Texas, Ulusal is able to mobilize quickly throughout the state, attracting clientele that need a quick turnaround. Some subcontractors even bring in other subcontractors to get a project done on time. It takes a lot of coordination to keep projects running smoothly. “The subcontractors need to be in sync. It’s like a machine -- if one element stops, everything stops,” Ulusal said. The company has plans to expand into New Mexico in the near future. Ulusal remains cautious about controlling his rate of growth. Juggling six projects at once is typical for Ulusal and his 15 employees and he likes to “keep his hands in the mix.” However, there are some obstacles to growth, so Ulusal has concerns about growing at the right rhythm. “I want to grow at a certain pace and not do more than we can do. We need to grow little by little,” he said. The company started in 2008 with three employees. Ulusal is trying to manage an expansion strategy with a minimal margin while maintaining high expectations. The recession has hindered growth somewhat because of bigger companies trying to go into the middle market. Ulusal said he has seen a $300 million company go after a $230,000
XELLA AIRCRETE With their North American headquarters based in San Antonio, Texas, Xella provides state-of-the-art building material solutions for fast-track construction projects across the nation through sustainable and energy efficient building blocks and panels. Hebel — part of Xella group — is the world leader in autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC) and the first choice among architects, developers and builders worldwide. Utilized throughout Europe since the 1950s, Xella’s Hebel brand has proven its worth in the international market for safe, innovative and sustainable building solutions. Hebel AAC has a full range of products that together create a complete and well thought-out building system including wall, floor and roof panels, wall boards, standard block and specialty block including lintel, U-block and cored block. Panels reinforced with steel wire cages can be used to build structures as high as eight stories. Hebel-AAC products offer great solutions for various types of buildings, with its 4-hour fire rating, excellent thermal performance, great acoustics, light weight and structural capabilities. Hebel-AAC is the best way to build quickly and remain green. Hebel AAC products can be used to build a wide variety of structures including hotels, schools, single family homes, multi-family developments, commercial buildings, fire walls, privacy walls and sound barrier walls. The material truly shines in geographic areas prone to natural threats like hurricanes, tornadoes, wildfires and floods. You can find out more about Hebel AAC products at xella-usa.com, buildwithhebel.com or call 1-888-SA XELLA (729-3552).
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The North American College in Houston, Texas was a major college campus project that constitutes around 300,000 sq. ft. on a 14 acre development. The campus includes an administration building, classrooms, student center, dormitory, cafeteria and library. Phase 1, totaling 49,000 sq.ft., was completed in 11 months. The building has a conventional steel structure, stone façade and TPO roof system. It includes fire protection systems and luxury interior finishes. The architect was Tipps Architecture. MEP services by Jordan and Skala Engineers. All photos courtesy of Solidarity Contracting.
remodeling project. Competition is rigorous in his area and that is also why he does not want to grow too quickly. He is weathering the recession well and is hopeful that the economy will rebound quickly. He believes that Texas is a strong state economically. Five years from now Ulusal has his sights set on being able to complete projects throughout the nation as well as diversify into other construction industries beyond education. He would also like to do more innovative projects such as smart buildings and LEED certified buildings. Environmentally sustainable design and construction is important to Ulusal and is already incorporated into his business. He often uses sustainable products, and most of his buildings qualify for LEED certification. The political science building was designed and built with high energy ratings and nonhazardous materials. “Being eco-friendly costs a bit more, but it is something we simply cannot sacrifice for the health of our contractors, laborers, owners and, ultimately, the kids,” Ulusal said, referring to the students that occupy the educational buildings his company has constructed. Ulusal’s sensitivity to environmental concerns as well as the quality of his buildings and ability to mobilize have kick-started his company into a prominent position in Texas. Regarding plans to grow larger, Ulusal is taking his time and doing everything the smart way while enjoying a business that has always been close to his heart. CLT
CMS USA NATURAL STONE Since 1978 CMS USA has been one of the leading quarry owners and processors of marble, travertine and onyx. Marble production includes bursa beige, bursa cream, bursa rose, mocha beige, kara black, savana gray, gold emprador. Onyx includes green and honey. For more information please visit www. cmsusa.us or call us at 713-690-6868. Please see our add on page 81. 42 Spring 2011
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Construction Leaders Today 43
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General Plumbing, Inc.
50 years and counting... As World War II came to a close and the world first began to breathe again, hundreds of thousands of soldiers began returning home. This provided a major boom to the United States work force, giving the country’s burgeoning economy the manpower it needed to become one of the foremost modern economies on the planet. Many of the companies that started during this time, stand today as a symbol of quality, dedication and the finest workmanship. In 1946, General Plumbing, Inc. became one of those companies. Throughout the Palm Beach County region in eastern Florida in the late 1940s and early 1950s, major residential development created a need for trusted, high-quality plumbing work. As the projects continued to pour in, General Plumbing, Inc. stepped up to meet this demand. The company began its work based on a mission statement that has defined its work to this day: “To offer a high level of service in a timely and efficient manner, while providing quality products, advanced technology and a dedicated team of professionals who meet our customers’ concerns for their health, safety and protection of property.” The company has always held a strong focus on reversing the fact that the public’s common idea of a plumber involves someone who is slovenly, rude, undertrained, overpaid and generally accompanied by a wide variety of foul odors. This all-too-real notion of a plumber is only available when you’re not, hides the price until the final bill and will be all too happy to service your home again when his initial work fails in a few weeks. At every step of the way, General Plumbing, Inc. has taken it upon itself to understand every aspect of the working methods of this terrible and unfortunately existent plumber. They then proceed to conduct themselves in the exact opposite method. General Plumbing, Inc. is always available to customers at all hours, on every holiday, to make sure that every customer has a reliable, qualified technician available to solve their emergencies. Their regular service extends throughout weekends, and each member of their staff are licensed, professionally trained and held to the highest national standards. Plumbing is one of several trades that has been forced to deal with the malformed, preconceived notions kept alive by the worst still working within the industry. The most common of these is the frequency of hidden charges that 44 Spring 2011
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only come to the customer’s attention after the work has been done. General Plumbing, Inc. wants to make sure that this is never the case through their Menu Pricing System. Each one of the myriad services that General Plumbing, Inc. offers is attached to a static, standard rate. Their prices are based on local and national averages and are calculated by the leaders of the company, most of whom have over 25 years of experience within the industry. Additionally, the company provides an enrollment program, called the Ultimate Savings Agreement. General Plumbing, Inc. provides customers with a discounted pricing structure, though this has no bearing on the quality of the work performed or the products installed. Whether they’ve been a customer for 50 years or 50 minutes, each customer receives the same quality craftsmanship that has exceeded the industry standard for years. With 65 years of quality serving as their foundation, General Plumbing, Inc. has the experience to make sure that every detail of a project is properly set in order. From the cleanliness, respect and friendliness of their technicians to the fact that they exclusively use soft tool bags as opposed to hard tool boxes, as to avoid scratching any surface in the customer’s home. The company’s scope spans the commercial and residential sectors equally, along with performing installations for newly constructed custom homes as well as older and even his-
toric structures in need of repairs or a more efficient system. The span of their services extends beyond the assumed scope of the industry, venturing into water heaters, steam unites, heat recovery units, filtration systems and more. Today, as one of the area’s leading providers of plumbing services, General Plumbing, Inc. has maintained both the talent and the
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foundation that have led them to the success they enjoy today. Whether the project is a historic renovation, a custom installation using only the finest and newest technology or a repair project under your sink, General Plumbing, Inc. keeps their goal in sight: total customer satisfaction using only the best in terms of supplies, talent and service. CLT
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A FULL RECOVERY 46 Spring 2011
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Nashville’s D.F. Chase revives the iconic Opryland Hotel after the flood of 2010
by Rebecca Rodriguez
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t was recorded as the largest non-hurricane natural disaster in the history of the country; and, it turned the Gaylord Opryland Hotel & Resort into a water-laden disaster zone. But D.F. Chase accomplished what was thought to be impossible – the rebuilding of a Nashville icon in only five months, turning it into something even more spectacular than it was before. As flood waters began cresting over the Nashville, Tenn. levees in early May, 2010, it became apparent to the owners of the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center that the damage to the property would be extensive and the rebuilding effort would need to be fast and seamless. They did not hesitate who to contact. The night of the flood, executives of Nashville based D.F. Chase, Inc., received an urgent phone call about the impending damage to the Opryland hotel. “We need your help to assess the damage?” was the main issue on the owner’s mind. When the flooding finally stopped, one million square feet of the hotel sat under 10 to 20 feet of water, putting 1,743 employees out of jobs, as well. Having completed the renovation of 2,600 rooms three years prior, Chase knew the property well. The company had also completed about 300 other projects for Opryland in the past and had experienced superintendents and subcontractors who were familiar with the building, including the mechanical, electrical and IT systems which were completely destroyed. “It’s easier to put humpty dumpty back together again when you’re familiar with the pieces,” said David Chase, Executive Vice President of D.F. Chase. The company’s founder, Dean Chase, had built the hotel originally in 1977. The D.F. Chase team worked with representatives of Gaylord’s Opryland hotel to develop a schedule, budget, and scope of work to be performed. The owners were faced with a $270 million cleanup and repair with a six-month completion schedule, but Chase assured Gaylord executives that it would be done. After four weeks of pumping out the water and lugging off 1,180 dumpsters filled with debris, Chase was left with only five months to complete the repairs. “We had to pump and circulate air throughout the building to control the moisture inside in order to prevent mold from ruining the parts of the property that weren’t under water,” Chase said. “That’s not an easy task in Tennessee in May, June, and July.”
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PREVIOUS PAGE: The Falls Lounge in the Gaylord Opryland Hotel. ABOVE: The Magnolia entrance to the Opryland Hotel. Photos courtesy Gaylord Opryland.
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LEFT: A view of three restaurant sections being rebuilt in the Opryland Hotel Garden Conservatory BELOW: A view of the flooded Cumberland River bank the day after the flood. Photos courtesy D.F. Chase.
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ABOVE: The new Cascade Lobby registration and check in. Photos courtesy Gaylord Opryland.
“They were losing millions of dollars every day it was closed. It was imperative that we get them back up and running as soon as possible.” 50 Spring 2011
“They were losing millions of dollars every day it was closed. It was imperative that we get them back up and running as soon as possible,” said Paschal O’Dwyer, D.F. Chase VP of Operations and project lead for the rebuild. “Everyone said five months was impossible.” D.F. Chase is known for its ability to mobilize quickly and work fast. Gaylord felt confident that the team in place would rise to meet the task, and tried to look at the situation in a positive light. The main common areas of the hotel, such as the lobby, conservatory and restaurant sections hadn’t been updated since the 1980s and were in need of renovation anyway. Hotel executives decided to make a big transformation and go with a more modern look. “Although it was an unfortunate event, Gaylord used it as an opportunity to renovate areas that really needed it,” Chase said. “The volume of work that was put into place in such a short amount of time was incredible. They’ve always been one of our favorite clients and we were privileged and honored to be a part of the hotel’s restoration. It gave us a sense of pride. This is a special client for us.” A special client in a special situation calls for special handling. The rebuilding required immense man power and the project averaged 800 men on the work site at one time with 1,100 men at peak performance. Vice President of Field Operations, Dennis Gregory led the way along with 7 project superintendents. Work went on seven days a week with 12-hour shifts. Paschel O’Dwyer, Vice President of Operations at D.F. Chase, worked directly on the site every day with Gaylord. He had acted as senior manager of the 2007 renovation project so he was quite familiar with the resort. O’Dwyer has been with the company for fifteen years and has come from field engineer to Vice President and become one of the company’s greatest assets. Reconstruction needed to move as swiftly as the floodwaters that had caused so much damage. The architects, based in Atlanta, were asked to have representatives on site seven days a week in order to respond immediately to RFI’s. There were no delays caused by unanswered e-mails or missed phone calls. The rebuilding effort consisted of the repair and renovation of 717 guestrooms, six restaurant areas, a 1,200 person employee cafeteria, three bars, 70,000 sq. ft. of back-of-house administrative and office space, as well as 800,000 sq. ft. of exhibit and meeting space. Additionally, the entire
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SUPERIOR FIRE PROTECTION Since 1976 Superior Fire Protection, Inc. has provided quality fire protection products and services to commercial and residential customers across the country. With four offices in Tennessee and Oklahoma servicing clients in 19 states, Superior Fire Protection is ready to meet all fire protection needs. The company is part of American Fire Protection Group, a multimillion-dollar network of expert companies servicing clients from coast to coast. Through network affiliations, Superior Fire Protection designs, fabricates and installs fire protection and alarm systems, and provides 24/7 repair, maintenance and inspection services. They have been servicing the Gaylord Opryland Hotel for 25 years.
DROPS- EVERYTHING SCENIC
Drops-Everything Scenic is a full-service scenic painting studio serving the entertainment, commercial and residential markets. Drops-Everything specializes in many styles of painting and design, including scenic, graphic, trompe l’oeil, architectural and faux finishes. Established in 1986, Drops-Everything provides painted interior murals and wall coverings which are applied like wallpaper — seamlessly or with as few seams as the space allows. Drops-Everything also provides custom soft goods & scenic painting for exhibits, live productions, themed environments, special events and film/video. For more information please call 615-333-0401.
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mechanical, electrical, and IT systems had to be rebuilt. “We didn’t have permanent power until mid-August,” O’Dwyer said. During the reconstruction, 21,400 sheets of drywall, 5,650 gallons of paint, and 9,000 hinges were used. In order to manage the reconstruction project as fast as possible, D.F. Chase executives decided to break it up into eight subprojects, including restaurants, exhibit space and guest rooms. Multiple subcontractors in one area all worked together at the same time. “We had three different drywall subcontractors and three to four different tile guys. We were able to put the right amount of manpower on it,” Chase said. “Everyone was local. No one was brought in from out of town. This was a major boost for the Nashville economy. As negative as the flood was, it created some much needed activity for the local construction industry.” Materials were local as well. Chase did not want to take the chance that something could get held up in customs. If some overseas material was preferred, it could be exchanged and built in later. No materials were brought in by boat or plane. They had to come by truck or it wasn’t included in the design. “It was a major communication and organizational undertaking. It went really well because everyone was a team player and bought into the system. We did what needed to be done to get reopened. Failure was not an option. We couldn’t fail. We were going to be done by November 1st,” Chase said. Mark Burrell of The Workman Company was in charge of the acoustical ceiling installation for the project. “The entire D.F. Chase team is very professional, organized, and committed to excellence.” Burrell said. “I believe part of the reason the Opryland renovation was such a success is because D.F. Chase is dedicated to working with subcontractors who are as committed to quality and customer service as they are.” What was seen as impossible by many was accomplished on schedule and in time for the resort’s mid-November “Country Christmas” holiday kickoff celebration. After Chase’s Nov. 1st completion, the hotel hired back 2,000 employees, retrained them, and opened its doors to the public on November 15th. Gaylord threw a grand reopening celebration which included performances by Keith Urban, Trace Adkins, and Sheryl Crow and invited close to 1,000 of the top event and meeting planners to
ABOVE: The Conservatory Wine Bar OPPOSITE: A Dale Chihuly glass sculpture in the Cascades Main Lobby. Photos courtesy Opryland Gaylord.
ALEXANDER METALS Alexander Metals, Inc. started in 1992 by Alec T. Estes, specializes in sales, fabrication and installation of building envelope products. The majority of Alexander Metals work is storefront, curtainwall, skylights and architectural metal panels. Alexander Metals has been recognized by the National Glass Association as one of America’s top 50 glaziers for the last 11 years and has won the “Awards of Excellence” presented by the Associated Builders and Contractors for the last 11 years. In addition to these awards, Alexander Metals, Inc. has received the STEP Award for safety by Associated Builders and Contractors and currently has an EMR of .77. The bulk of Alexander Metals work is within a 200 mile radius of Nashville; however, they have travelled further. They have enjoyed a long, successful relationship with D. F. Chase and look forward to projects in the future.
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come enjoy the celebration and see firsthand the work that had been done. “They hosted a huge reopening celebration. It was a major deal for Opryland, and for us to be a part of it was special. We improved the facility, the overall property, and opened the hotel back up Photos courtesy Gaylord Opryland. in time for the highlight event of the year,” Chase said. The company’s work on the flood-damaged resort has opened doors and created further opportunities with companies in the hospitality industry and other sectors. Nashville-based D.F. Chase was founded in 1986 as a full-service general contractor/construction management company by Chase’s father, Dean Chase, who now runs the company but plans on retiring soon. “I was born into the industry. I’ve spent my entire life interacting with construction sites and TERRASCAPE hearing stories about construction jobs,” David Chase said. “My father, Dean, is a father figure to TerraScape provides a unique blower many in the company. Some D.F. Chase employees have been working for my father longer than application of aggregate and soil products I’ve been alive. That naturally results in a lot of loyalty on the part of the company’s employees. It’s for institutional, corporate, residential and a real family like corporate culture.” civic projects. TerraScape’s trucks and crews The company, with about 100 employees, works on projects across the nation and Mexico. The provide prompt and professional service main areas of focus are hospitality, healthcare, industrial, commercial, logistics, institutional, retail, to clients throughout the middle South. and aviation projects. D.F. Chase manages about 20 to 30 projects at once. Quality of work and Contact TerraScape at 615-893-5125 or visit terrascapetn.com for more information. speed are the high priorities with Chase. “We’re just really fast. We sell on value, quality and schedule are what drives us,” David Chase said. “There’s also the hassle-free factor. We handle problems before they get to you. That can save you time and money and you can open three months earlier. Time is money. If you’re getting a project built faster and getting into the building and starting your operations faster, that’s a big advantage to you as a business owner.” Time was of the essence with the rebuilding of the Gaylord Opryland resort. Along with another building damaged in the flood, the famous Grand Ole Opry, it stands as an iconic property for Nashville. It was D.F. Chase’s dedication to quality and performance that allowed Opryland to reopen with a fanfare appropriate for a town named Music City. CLT ABOVE: The pool area at the Opryland Hotel
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WATERSTONE CONSTRUCTION by Joel Cornell
As the flood waters ravaged countless historical and iconic landmarks throughout the Nashville, Tenn. region, local companies such as Waterstone Construction, Inc. were primed and ready to begin the repair work overnight. Waterstone Construction, Inc. has been designing and installing unique fountains and water systems in the Nashville area and around the country since 1982, while founder, principal engineer and president John Houge has been working in the industry since the late 1970s. “As a unique specialist working in the building industry, we’ve always had the best partnerships and working relationships with local companies such as D.F. Chase,” Houge said. “On the Opryland flood project, we had a tight schedule for getting the resort back into operation. Fortunately, we were already familiar with the other builders, subcontractors and architects working on the project. We got in, installed over 100 new pump systems with related controls, performed repair work on the systems we had been installing over the years since the early 1980s, and got right back out in less than two months.” For Houge and Waterstone Construction, Inc., their work is simply art in motion. With the absolute best in artisan design work, quality materials and a lengthy history of success, Waterstone Construction, Inc. has remained the source for custom fountains and water works.
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THE SOURCE OF POWER
WOLFE & TRAVIS ELECTRIC, INC. HAS MAINTAINED A UNIQUE SCOPE AND A PASSION FOR ELECTRICAL WORK, TEMPERED BY DECADES UPON DECADES OF EXPERIENCE. by Joel Cornell
Throughout a history spanning nearly half a century, Wolfe & Travis Electric, Inc. has brought a unique perspective to the building industry. Their project history is a veritable map of the most prominent buildings in Tennessee. Based out of the Wolfe family’s home town of Nashville, Tenn., Wolfe & Travis Electric, Inc. has been providing the area with nothing but the absolute finest in professional electrical work. At the time of the company’s founding in 1967, the very first project Wolfe & Travis Electric, Inc. took on was not the small, innocuous project with which most building or electrical companies first begin. The Vanderbilt Holiday Inn, located in downtown Nashville, maintains nearly 300 rooms for patrons, with the full scale of amenities for executives, large meetings, conventions and corporate events. The hotel, which is still in operation today, served as a formative experience for the total scope and range Wolfe & Travis Electric, Inc. has maintained throughout the years. Today, Wolfe & Travis Electric, Inc. completes electrical work worth over $44 million gross volume annually. Their scope extends into both the commercial and industrial sectors, including work in hospitals, convention centers, 56 Spring 2011
data centers, corporate office buildings, prisons, Since the founding of the Opryland Hotel, churches, warehouses and manufacturing Wolfe & Travis Electric, Inc. has been instrufacilities. They also have an extensive expertise mental in its renovation and expansion. Since in power distribution systems. 1983, Wolfe & Travis Electric, Inc. has completed Above all else, Wolfe & Travis Electric, Inc. nearly $55 million worth of work for Opryland. maintains their primary goal as providing This work has included highly technical power their customers with the best service, using and lighting work on over 2,800 suites and only the best materials installed by highly hotel rooms. In keeping with the concept, qualified technicians at the very best price. The “time is money,” Wolfe & Travis Electric, Inc. company’s team of highly-skilled tradesmen kept a highly rigorous schedule throughout is continually working to improve the service each phase of their myriad projects with the the company delivers and their overall con- hotel. On average, Wolfe & Travis Electric, struction methods. Throughout their efforts, Inc. completed approximately 15 rooms daily Wolfe & Travis Electric, Inc. continues to offer during their working process. new ideas and their expertise in the electrical Presently, Wolfe & Travis Electric, Inc. has contracting field. been working with and budgeting for new The iconic Gaylord Opryland Resort & Con- facilities for a new phase of expansion within vention Center was originally constructed the hotel. in 1977 and has stood for decades as the Wolfe & Travis Electric, Inc. brings a unique largest non-gaming casino in the continental range of experience and absolute constructabilU.S. outside Las Vegas. The facility originally ity to each and every project they encounter. consisted of over 400 guest rooms, a 19,000 Based on a team concept, their tradesmen’s sq. ft. luxury ballroom, an exhibit hall, three talent and skill is of the highest caliber. Their restaurants, four retail shops and nine meeting project managers serve in many additional rooms. After a catastrophic flooding on May 3, capacities on each job, such as estimator. All 2010, Wolfe & Travis was called in because of of this lends a complex blend of knowledge, their experience with large, difficult systems. skill and dedication to every client. CLT.
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Nashville Carpet Center has been a leader in the carpet and flooring industry since its beginning nearly four decades ago. Many of their employees, including owner and founder Van Gilmore, have been in the industry much longer than that. Through their years of experience, growth and expansion, the geographic range of the company extends far outside of Nashville, Tenn. Many of their most high-profile jobs have taken them across the country, from Washington, D.C. to New York City to Los Angeles. “In those beginning years, we had a great focus on residential carpet and flooring,” Gilmore said. “From our residential work we naturally expanded into commercial work, gradually at first, gaining important experience. Over the years, the majority of our work has shifted to large-scale commercial projects. At the same time, our residential business has grown on a foundation of loyal, satisfied customers. So today, Nashville Carpet Center consists of a residential division and a contract and commercial division.” Many of the sales staffers at Nashville Carpet Center come from design-oriented backgrounds, so their skill sets are ideally suited to work with architects and designers. Often, Nashville Carpet Center works as an asset to architects, designers and clients by guiding them through the company’s expansive library of commercial sample books and lending their own carpet and flooring expertise. Wayne Bishop, contract and commercial division’s head of hospitality, has handled the company’s ongoing account with the nationally renowned Gaylord Opryland Hotel in Nashville for nearly 15 years. In 2010, severe flooding in the area nearly destroyed many local buildings including the iconic hotel. Gaylord hired D.F. Chase Construction to oversee its extensive restoration, with Nashville Carpet Center as the flooring subcontractor. “The project itself involved recarpeting and reflooring over 549,000 sq. ft. throughout the resort. Due to the need to re-open the property by Christmas, the Gaylord Opryland restoration required 40 to 50 installers working around the clock during the final stages of our work,” Bishop said. “Usually, we are one of the last subcontractors to come on to such a job. While we are just beginning our work, we have to work around many other subcontractors who are finishing their work. Additionally, much of the carpeting we used came internationally via air freight, which put an even tighter hold around our schedule. Nonetheless, every aspect of the project was finished right and on time.” Nashville Carpet Center’s work across the country involves much more than just supply and installation. In areas such as specialty contracting work, design, shipping, logistics and travel arrangement their expertise is unsurpassed in the carpet and flooring industry. In renovation work, they have developed a highly efficient system for removing old carpet and flooring of all kinds. In environments utiliz-
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NASHVILLE CARPET CENTER BEAUTIFUL FLOORING EVERY TIME
ing office systems furniture, they specialize in using the lift system to replace carpet in a fast non-disruptive manner. Through special techniques, exact scheduling and working after hours, carpet can be replaced with no disruption of office function. “Over the last few decades, we’ve seen a rapid expansion in the styling and quality within the industry,” Gilmore said. “Our personnel are some of the most qualified in the industry. Still, we have trainers come in from around
by Joel Cornell
the country so that we never stop learning and growing. We always keep in mind the fact that no matter how highly qualified we are, we want to learn the newest, most up to date techniques." From extensive projects involving design, planning, materials and installation to straightforward installation of owner-supplied materials, Nashville Carpet Center’s contract and commercial division brings experience, diligence and total quality to every job. CLT Construction Leaders Today 59
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TWO GENERATIONS OF QUALITY SERVICE SUDBERRY MILLWORK PROVIDES THEIR WIDE RANGE OF CLIENTS WITH THE BEST IN CABINETRY, FURNITURE AND WOOD PRODUCTS by Marylyn Simpson
Nashville-based Sudberry Millwork has been providing the nation with premiere custom architectural millwork and casework since 1977. Founded by Buford Sudberry and Burch Anderson, these longtime friends came together to create stand-out products which included custom cabinets, furniture, commercial displays and trim and fabricated wood. Sudberry Millwork has spent the last 13 years under the management of Tracy Green, a longtime employee of Sudberry and Anderson. Growing the company has been Green’s biggest goal since becoming president and he is focused on expanding their top-notch reputation. “We’ll pretty much do a job of any size,” Green said. “We’ll go anywhere. We’ve done jobs from New York to California. We haven’t gone out of the country, but if the opportunity was right, we would. The majority of our work is in the Southeast.” Currently employing a team of 40, Sudberry’s customer base is national chain restaurants, such as O’Charley’s and Ruby Tuesday, and general contractors. Priding themselves in their ability to take a single piece of wood and mold it into a useful, aesthetically-pleasing product, Green said that not only are their standards of service above average, but their willingness to work with clients out-of-state gives them an edge other companies may not have. This turnkey shop is best known for its work on nurses’ stations, registration desks, bar dies, profile walls, paneling, doors and windows. “If someone comes to us with a project and we have the ability for it to be a turnkey project, we can be a one-stop deal. We deal with glass and hardware; but anything someone comes
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up with we have the ability to do,” Green said. “The two driving points of this industry are price and time frame. We have capability, willpower and manpower. If we get into a job that has a tight deadline, our people are willing to put forth the effort it takes to meet that deadline. We design our projects to be as cost-efficient and time-efficient as possible. We’re a full service company and we offer good quality at a fair price.” Staying up-to-date with current industry trends has been a part of Sudberry’s expansion process. Sudberry is an AWI QualityCertified shop and also has the ability to work on LEED certified
projects. Recognizing that the green movement is something that will continue to set industry standards, Green says that environmentallyfriendly products will most likely become the industry norm within the next five to 10 years. Currently switching to less toxic products like PureBond, a formaldehyde-free glue, has been a part of Sudberry Millwork’s movement towards improving their product standards. Although they are not FFC certified at this point, Green says that they will be in future, as environmental and green practice standards continue to rise. Regardless of reputation, they were not immune from the recent economic shift. Between 2008 and 2009, business dropped by 60 percent and has had to switch to what Green calls, “survival mode,” Instead of taking a backseat to the inevitable, Green and his team have combated their financial situation by using the decreased competition to their advantage, pricing their products at a point where they can still make a profit. And while Nashville’s May 2010 flooding devastated the city, Sudberry Millwork’s ability to react in a time of crisis not only helped to preserve and recover part of the city, but put into practice their philosophy of producing quality work under even under the most extreme of circumstances. “In a crisis we have the ability to react, and make things happen,” Green said. “The flood was in some ways a blessing for us. It gave us work we didn’t have. We are a company that can react to crisis, crazy deadlines and out of the norm situations.” CLT
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USING CONCRETE LIKE CANVAS
THE TENNESEE BRANCH OF SUNDEK LEAVES AN IMPRINT WHEREVER THEY GO by Marylyn Simpson
For over 25 years, Nashville-based Sundek by Superior Concrete Resurfacing, Inc., has served the state as a nationally-recognized decorative concrete resurfacing company. Owners, Andy and David Guy, have made an imprint on the commercial and residential concrete surfaces national chain hotels like Marriott to the Nashville International Airport. The Guy brothers continue to expand the family-owned business, taking on high-profile projects and establishing the company as the “go-to” organization for decorative concrete resurfacing. Founded in 1984 by John and Marjorie Bonney, aunt and uncle of the brothers, the company consisted of three employees and was the only authorized Sundek dealer in Tennessee. Eventually, the Bonneys retired, leaving Sundek to Andy and David to continue the family-owned-and operated tradition and to eventually grow it to a 24-employee, $2 million per year business. 62 Spring 2011
Expanding their business into what it is today has been an arduous and challenging process. The nine-crew company, serving over 4,000 commercial and residential customers, has retained many of its employees for 10 to 24 years. Each are trained in-house from the ground up, thus bringing a high level of experience to each project. “A key factor in our success has been the level of dedication and talent of our employees,” Andy said. “This is especially true because of the hands-on, labor-intensive nature of the decorative concrete coatings business.” Sundek’s installation on pool decks has become the company’s calling card. The product’s ability to stay substantially cooler than regular concrete, its affordability and its limitless custom designs and colors, make it appealing to pool owners. Because Sundek had installed and serviced the exterior pool decks at the Opryland Hotel
since 1984, the hotel requested their expertise in solving a dangerous problem with customer’s slipping on their indoor spa pool deck. Sundek was able to apply its SunStamp overlay product in the exact pattern and color as the original tile surface, including anti-slip protection. After the May 2010 flood that hit Nashville, the D. F. Chase Company, contractor for the restoration of the hotel, asked Sundek to repair any damage to the indoor spa pool deck. After an initial inspection of the damage, we were delighted to find that even after a week of being under muddy river water, our product had held up extremely well. After some minor repair on an expansion joint and a thorough cleaning and application of a new coat and sealer, the deck was restored to a like-new condition. “The fact that all that was required was a minor repair, cleaning and resealing was a tribute to our product and the quality of our original installation,” Andy said.
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Setting themselves apart from other concrete resurfacing companies, Sundek prides itself in its originality and being able to maintain their reputation as a leader in new and innovative products and methods of installation. This approach has helped Sundek survive the current economic climate. Unlike cutting services or products like many companies did during the recession, introduced three new products, including a winter-friendly polyaspartic product, unlike concrete which requires ideal conditions. The product has one of the best warranties in the industry and is the latest and most advanced product for garage floors, locker rooms and game rooms. “The industry has greatly expanded over the last several years,” Andy said. “Currently, there is a much wider array of more durable and attractive products available for any type of concrete resurfacing. Products last longer with minimum maintenance and Sundek has been an industry leader since 1970 in developing these products. Plain concrete is boring, but it doesn’t have to be.” CLT Construction Leaders Today 63
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For over half a century, Vannoy Construction has built its reputation as a leading construction company in North Carolina. Now a major retail developer, Vannoy Construction has left a permanent mark on the American construction industry, with its high profile projects.
Commercial Giant by Marylyn Simpson
Far from its humble beginnings as a start-up roofing company, Vannoy Construction has become one of the fastest growing contractors in North Carolina. Vannoy is now a nationally recognized leader in construction, backed by 60 years experience. Founded in 1952, Vannoy Construction was started by James R. Vannoy as a small roofing company. Over the years, Vannoy transitioned from roofing, to residential home building, to full-blown construction, gradually expanding its services from a local to national scope. Now headed by Jim Vannoy’s sons, Eddie and Mark Vannoy, Vannoy Construction has grown exponentially over the last decade, with a 150-person staff and four offices, located in Jefferson, N.C., Charlotte, N.C., Boone, N.C., and Anderson, S.C. The Vannoy brothers’ strengths in developing major commercial projects, including Lowe’s, Wal-Mart and Dick’s Sporting Goods, has heightened the company’s national profile and yearly profit. Construction Leaders Today 65
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PREVIOUS PAGE: An aerial view of the completed store and parking area. THIS PAGE: The Lowe's project at various stages of completion. Photos courtesy of Vannoy Construction
“Once we built one Lowe’s, we were able to excavated down about 30 ft. on site to find grow that relationship and have now completed good, suitable dry dirt.” over 200 stores for Lowe’s,” said Mike Starnes, Despite its ability to prevail over challenges, project manager. Vannoy was not immune to the economic Vannoy’s contracting relationships have grown recession. Relying on a majority of large retail from loyal local patrons to larger national clients, over the past two years, Vannoy felt a clients, Starnes said. backlash from companies like Lowe’s, which “Lowe's, in particular, is only 20 to 30 minutes cut development back by nearly 80 percent. To from our main office. From a geographic stand- reestablish its grounding within the industry, point, being close to Lowe's, we were able to Vannoy pursued other ventures, such as healthestablish a relationship with them. We get the care and university projects. Both resilient work from larger clients because we have a lot against economic hardship, healthcare and of experience in that type of work,” Starnes said. university projects have aided in the growth One of Vannoy’s most recent projects includes of Vannoy, even in the worst financial climate. the Lowe's in College Station, Texas. In this Not only has Vannoy set itself apart from upscale Texan neighborhood, Vannoy followed other construction companies through its strict aesthetic guidelines for building appeal expansion efforts, but its ability to travel and and design. Starnes worked closely with Lowe’s relocate has made Vannoy a leader in the field. and the municipality making sure no detail Averaging 40 to 50 projects a year, Starnes went unchecked. Unique to other Lowe’s, Van- said committing to “getting the job done” has noy constructed the College Station location directly influenced repeat business. with a brick facade, an ornamental garden “We have people working for us, willing to fence and premiere landscaping. go over a thousand miles away from home While Starnes and his team anticipated for six to eight months at a time," Starnes said. municipal standards challenges, the weather "We also find subcontractors and suppliers to was an unexpected one, as well. Frequent rain work with in other states, whereas many other muddied the site and working conditions. general contractors don’t go more than two to “We worked seven days a week, 12 to 15 hours three hours from where they’re based." a day to meet our deadline,” Starnes said. “We Looking to the future, Starnes said Vannoy is ended up lime stabilizing the building pad pursuing LEED certified and environmentally because it was so soft and wet. conscious projects. Currently staffed with six "We had to haul in tanker trunk-loads of LEED Accredited Professionals, Vannoy aims lime, spread it out all over the ground, and to expand its staffs’ LEED certifications. As till it into the soil to dry it out and create a Vannoy continues to build relationships with stable building surface. We did it all over the major retailers and pursue recession-proof building pad, about 200,000 sq. ft. We also clients, its growth possibilities are endless. CLT 66 Spring 2011
PETERSEN MANUFACTURING Petersen Manufacturing Company had the pleasure of working with Vannoy Construction, supplying the precast concrete planters for the new Lowes station. Heavy, durable planters with an aesthetic appeal added beauty and a sense of security to the perimeter of the new store. Petersen Manufacturing Company is located in Denison, Iowa and has been doing business since 1913. The company offers many styles of planters, bollards, security barriers, benches, tables, drinking fountains and waste receptacles. From the planning stage to the final installation, consider Petersen Manufacturing for your next project. Call 800832-7383 or e-mail: sales@petersenmfg.com for more information.
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EAST TEXAS CANOPY, INC.
WHETHER SERVICING A SCHOOL OR A FORTUNE 500 CONGLOMERATE, THIS COMPANY HAS BEEN PROVIDING CUSTOM CANOPY SOLUTIONS FOR OVER 25 YEARS. by Joel Cornell
For every element of design during the construction of a building, there is a firm or company which stands out above the rest as a uniquely talented specialist within that element. When it comes to protective coverings, custom canopies and paneling systems for both roofing and siding, that one outstanding company is East Texas Canopy, Inc. For over a quarter of a century, East Texas Canopy, Inc. has maintained itself as a leader in the design, manufacturing, installation and maintenance of protective coverings, roofing and siding. The company was first established in the mid 1980s on a commitment to excellence in providing protective covers of all types for commercial and industrial applications. Since then, the range and scope of its products and services has been increasing without hesitation or signs of slowing. With nothing but the utmost regard for the highest in quality and durability, East Texas Canopy, Inc. has extended their product line through extruded aluminum, roll formed steel and aluminum, insulated panel systems and sunshade system. The company also provides a wide range of finishes including anodizing, wet line painting and powder coating with hundreds of color selections as well as embossing capabilities. Highly customizable for any of their 68 Spring 2011
clients’ home, protective, architectural, budget or engineering needs, the line of products that East Texas Canopy, Inc. offers and their wide range of external services allows the company to serve as a single source supplier for all of the clients’ needs and desires. No matter how complex the project may seem, East Texas Canopy, Inc. maintains the flexibility and wide range of talent required to customize a variety of canopy systems for each clients’ specific needs. From extruded to roll formed, and from aluminum and steel, East Texas Canopy, Inc. can work within the parameters given by each client in order to see their vision come to fruition. East Texas Canopy, Inc. has completed projects all throughout the Continental United States. Through their vast experience, customers can enjoy the confidence and satisfaction in both service and products that are functional and durable as well as aesthetically pleasing. Through site specific engineering documentation for every project, the East Texas Canopy, Inc. design team will consult with clients on every aspect of the protective coverings. Through their experience throughout all conceivable sectors, East Texas Canopy, Inc. has maintained the history and vision to suitably accomplish any size project. From large
industrial projects, to a variety of commercial work, for large national chains as Best Buy and Home Depot, as well as small entry canopies for private residential clients, East Texas Canopy, Inc. is able to accomplish quite literally whatever their clients’ may dream. While many specialty companies only cater to one aspect of their industry as a whole, East Texas Canopy, Inc. additionally manufactures, designs and installs a wide variety of roofing and siding products. Their flexibility and their scope across all sectors, markets and building types is again further augmented by the experience, materials and design services for all roofing and siding that East Texas Canopy, Inc. offers. Based out of Whitehouse, Texas, just 100 miles southwest of Dallas, East Texas Canopy, Inc. has been serving the entire nation with nothing less than complete dedication to the best in their class. In their efforts to act as the center for all of the design, manufacturing and supply needs for protective coverings, sun shading systems and architectural roofing and siding throughout the industrial, commercial, residential and institutional sectors since the company’s founding in 1985, East Texas Canopy, Inc. is primed to serve as a true single source for every industry on every project, every time. CLT
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THE MILLCON GROUP
PROFESSIONAL INSTALLERS OF EXTERIOR FINISHING SYSTEMS
by Joel Cornell
At a time when construction costs are so built and grown our company on that pride," stagnent, it is refreshing to find a company that Patricia Cote stated, president and CEO of can work within budget and time constraints, Millcon Group Inc. yet still deliver exceptional quality. Millcon Since 2004, Millcon has completed EIFS Group Inc. is just that kind of company. installations for over 250 projects nationwide Millcon Group Inc. has a team of construction for customers such as Lowe’s, Walmart, Sam’s specialists that have been providing build- Club, Home Depot, Kohl’s and many others. ing solutions in a variety of trades for over “EIFS technology has come a long way, and twenty years. we’ve been there every step of the way,” Norm Millcon is proud of its E.I.F.S. (exterior insula- Cote said, vice president of Millcon Group Inc. tion finishing systems) department. The average “Anyone with a trowel and a bucket can call EIFS craftsman that Millcon Group retains themselves an EIFS specialist. The tradesmen has over 15 years of experience in the industry. I’ve been fortunate enough to work with are "Most of our EIFS specialists have been with truly skilled and talented men performing a our company for their entire careers. Our difficult trade.” team takes pride in their work and it shows In addition to the products and services in every project that they complete. We have available to their clients, Millcon Group also
specializes in a wide range of HVAC work. For the commercial projects previously listed, Millcon Group also performed the HVAC installation. “There is very little turnover in our workforce. We believe in our product and in each other," Cote said. “When we say that skilled, highly qualified artisans will be delivering the work, we mean it. When we do bring on new talent, they’re always paired with a veteran craftsman. We’ve kept our overhead and costs to a minimum, allowing us to work effectively while delivering a finished product worthy of the most highly skilled artisans working in the industry today.” For more information please visit: www.millcongrp.com. CLT
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For your next commercial construction project, trust the name that built Columbia, South Carolina. Commercial construction is a task best left to the pros. With our experience we can complete your project on deadline, and well within budget. We have worked with many commercial clients, including the Arnold Companies, and these relationships have formed our reputation as a construction company.
The range of architects and projects that we have worked with are well diversified, and we have experience in constructing all types of commercial buildings from hotels to shopping centers. Give us a call today, and see why Eric Gunter is the name that South Carolina architects trust.
Eric Gunter, CEO Eric Gunter Construction
Phone: (803) 319-4501 Eric Gunter Construction is proud to work with Arnold Companies, and we congratulate them on their success.
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AN EFFICIENT SOLUTION
WITH OVER TWO DECADES OF EXPERIENCE IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND REAL ESTATE INDUSTRIES, BEN ARNOLD OF ARNOLD CONSTRUCTION KNOWS WHAT IT TAKES TO KEEP HIS COMPANY AT THE FOREFRONT OF THE COMPETITIVE REAL ESTATE MARKET by Marylyn Simpson
Within three years of college graduation, Ben Arnold, real estate developer and president of Arnold Construction, found himself running one of the most successful independent property tax consulting companies in South Carolina. Working between Atlanta and his hometown of Columbia, S.C., Arnold grew his business in a relatively short time, reducing his client’s property taxes substantially while charging fees on a contingency basis rather than flat rate or by the hour. Due to the quality of his work, Arnold landed his first tax consulting assignment in South Carolina, appealing six mobile home parks, saving his client $30,000. Convinced by Arnold’s results, the client gave Arnold his entire portfolio to appeal. Though the deal was a major feat in itself, the client also happened to be one of South Carolina’s largest developers. Honing his skills in real estate appraisal, Arnold signed 72 Spring 2011
$500 million in assessed value to represent and moved back to South Carolina and started working at his father’s real estate company, Southern Realty, where he eventually became president. “I took the money from the tax appeal business and partnered with my father, Norman,” Arnold said. “We started purchasing rundown apartment complexes. I hired Dale Grunsky and we formed Arnold Construction in 1995 for the purpose of renovating those apartments. From 1995 to 2007 we primarily developed our own properties and the construction company was part of the development team. So we bought and renovated mixed-use property, lofts, retail and so on.” After establishing himself within his family’s companies, Arnold bought his father out of the construction company in 2006 and moved in the direction of multi-family renovations
ABOVE: Pickens Apartments, Pickens, S.C. – completed in March, 2010. OPPOSITE: Belleville Apartments, Clinton, S.C. – completed in May, 2010.
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Construction Leaders Today 73
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and commercial construction for third parties. Focusing his attention on rural multi-family renovations, Arnold says what sets his company apart is its ability to completely renovate an occupied apartment within four days. This thereby saves his client time and money. The company also excels through strong working relationships with superintendents, subcontractors and suppliers. “We have the right subcontractors who, in conjunction with the project managers and superintendents, organize how and when the work is completed,” Arnold said. “Also important is the management company’s coordination of the work with the tenants. The tenants leave in the morning and when they return in the evening, the work scheduled for that day is completed. “Everything that is changed during the day is in working order that evening. This process includes repairing kitchen cabinets, appliances, plumbing fixtures, hot water heaters, electrical fixtures, smoke detectors, condensing units, vanities, doors, windows, carpet and vinyl flooring as well as sheetrock repair and painting.” While Arnold and his team have perfected
their cost-efficient renovation processes, they still face challenges, specifically in maintaining environmentally friendly construction methods. In order to stay in-tune with green practice methods, Arnold said he and his team have implemented such methods as storm water management, energy efficient building techniques and low VOC products. As Arnold has adapted to the green movement, his business has also had to adapt to economical and financial changes over the last couple years. Arnold said being both a property owner and developer has given him the ability to understand real estate from each end of the spectrum, giving him a competitive edge. Networking has also contributed to Arnold’s growth through the recession. Keeping contacts and relationships with developers, property owners and brokerage firms, while finding a niche within the industry, has led Arnold out of the economical storm and into a new phase of business. “We manage our own properties, too,” Arnold said. “We’re able to relate to our client needs, in terms of long-term maintenance. We know what issues to avoid and we can assist with
DIAMOND LANDSCAPING Since 1991, Diamond Landscaping and Lawn Maintenance, LLC has been providing professional residential and commercial landscape and year-round turf management services to commercial, industrial and multifamily clientele in the Carolinas. Diamond Landscaping is dedicated to providing courteous and professional services with the resources to offer a complete personalized landscaping and turf management program to customers. Valuing honesty, integrity, excellence, professionalism and progressiveness, Diamond Landscaping believes in being fair and straightforward, while maintaining the utmost level of quality. Diamond Landscape values the worth of relationships, particularly in working with Arnold Companies, as well as the opportunity to serve the lawn and landscape needs of upstate South Carolina, western North Carolina, and Northeast Georgia. For more information, please call Anson Powell at 864-449-3525.
INTERNATIONAL CONSTRUCTION SERVICES, INC. Family-owned International Construction Services, Inc. in Columbia, S.C. has been providing quality roofing and siding installations across South Carolina for the past 16 years in a timely and professional manner. They carry an A+ rating with the South Carolina BBB. As a full-service roofing and siding company working with commercial and residential contractors as well as individual homeowners from project inception to completion, ICS, Inc. takes pride in their knowledgeable staff and the ongoing relationships they build with their customers. With every reroofing project that they install, ICS, Inc. offers homeowners a five-year craftsmanship warranty. International Construction Services is honored to be an associate of The Arnold Companies, and is proud of the long standing working relationship with them. For more information, please visit www.intlconstserv.com
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the whole development process including zoning. We have relationships with attorneys, accountants, architects and engineers. “It’s being able to offer the full package and having experience procuring financing through a variety of institutions that contributes to our success. Our best year in the history of the company was 2010. You won’t find that from most contractors.” Arnold’s biggest financial advantage may be their sphere of work. While the amount of construction projects is a fraction of what it was pre-recession, Arnold’s ability to take on a wide range of projects enables his company to work through the recession, growing their portfolio and reputation as a leading South Carolina construction firm. It seems a safe bet to say these well rounded sets of practices have contributed to Arnold Construction’s recent growth and success. “We were the tenth fastest growing, privately owned company in South Carolina in 2008,” Arnold said. “In 2009 we were the second fastest,
according to the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce. We did phenomenal in 2010 as well.” Even with his company’s multitude of advantages and recent growth, Arnold said one of the biggest challenges his company faces is constant underbidding of projects. According to Arnold, as construction companies have suffered during the recession, they have started bidding at, or below, cost just to stay in business. While clients may benefit from low costs, quality and deadlines get sacrificed at the cost of development. “We haven’t seen the fallout of all this yet, because 2009’s work carried over to 2010. This year is going to be the year where we see who survives,” Arnold said. Arnold has combated underbidding by limiting exposure to the hard bid market and has built relationships with owners to engage in design/build projects. Currently, Arnold Construction is looking towards future projects that will enable them to keep growing their portfolio. One major market Arnold is
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H&H CONTRACTORS H & H Contractors enjoyed working with Paul Barilla and the staff at Arnold Construction on the Gibson Road Project. As framers, H&H worked with other trades to produce the outstanding, quality structure that exists today. With over 30 years of experience, H & H Contractors are able to tackle all framing jobs, large and small, no matter how complex. For more information, please call James Harkey at 803-513-9623.
ABOVE: Colony Square Apartments, Clinton, S.C. – completed in June, 2010. All photos courtesy of Arnold Construction.
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moving into is on and off-campus housing for university students. With the 2009 high school graduating class on record as the largest in U.S. history, there’s an impending need for more college dorms, off-campus housing and apartments for those joining the work force. Arnold sees university housing and student apartments as a new niche that will continue to grow his company over the next 10 years. Just down the road is Charleston, S.C. -- a city that draws a large number of tourists and visitors looking for southern charm and historic antebellum architecture that line Charleston’s famous King Street. Tucked behind in an alley is the wildly popular restaurant, McCrady’s, where Chef Sean Brock cooks up only local, inventive, farm fresh cuisine, mostly supplied by the restaurant’s three-acre farm on Wadmalaw Island. Arnold Construction was brought in for the custom historic renovation of the restaurant’s interior; and though hungry patrons had to wait, it was worth it. “This project is a classic example of raising and
renovating the interior of a historic building and bringing it up to modern standards while maintaining its historic ambiance,” Arnold said. But, the team at McCrady’s presented Arnold Construction with a challenge – they wanted the restoration to fall in line with their beliefs when it came to local and green dining. The hardwood floors for the dining rooms were retrieved from an old barn out of Florence, S.C. and milled to the original specifications. Interior millwork consists of wood beams in the ceilings and classic built-in bar seating and dining booths. The use of historic finishing techniques compliments the first class materials and unites the interior spaces, in keeping with the traditions of one of Charleston’s finest old-style restaurants. The locals have taken notice, too, of Arnold’s fine work in historic renovation and preservation has also garnered them a number of awards: Historic Columbia Foundation Award for Adaptive Reuse, GranDevine, in 2008; Historic Columbia Foundation Award for New Construction in a Historic Context, Vista Lofts,
AQUA SEAL MFG Aqua Seal’s work with Arnold Companies has been a mix of renovation and new construction. Working together on renovation projects is critical. Paying close attention to historical detail and providing a watertight condition of occupied buildings is something Aqua Seal and Arnold Companies have done well as a team. For more information on Aqua Seal, please visit www.aquasealroofing.com.
CREATIVE OUTDOOR DESIGNS For over 20 years, this South Carolina company has been bringing smiles to children's faces. Creative Outdoor Designs, Inc. offers a complete selection of products for all recreational and architectural needs. Based in Ballentine, S.C., the company has been working to bring only the best, high-quality products and supplies. Superior International Industries, the supplier for Creative Outdoor Designs, Inc. ,is a world leader in playground equipment, site amenities, park shelters and shade structures. One of their most prominent and highly sought after products is the Skyspan Cabana. These gorgeous structures combine the beautiful, elegant look of a cabana with Skyspan’s renowned wind ratings and unsurpassed durability. Creative Outdoor Designs, Inc. also supplies a comprehensive range of Super Shade products. Constructed using solar shade cloth, a UV stabilized polyethylene which blocks 98 percent of harmful radiation from the sun, and structural steel engineering to withstand winds of over 150 miles per hour. With over a dozen different styles and models, Creative Outdoor Designs, Inc. offers boundless applications and uses from daycare centers, schools and parks to stadiums, airport parking, storage lots and more. 76 Spring 2011
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in 2003; Historic Columbia Foundation Award for Renovation and Expansion of a Historic Building, Depot Building, in 1999. Looking ahead, Arnold plans to expand geographically and take his company to the next level, leveraging his team of experienced project managers, diverse portfolio and long-standing reputation. In a time when construction companies are cutting corners and delivering less than stellar results to their clients, Arnold prides himself in his ability to meet client expectations without sacrificing the quality of his work. Being a third generation family business owner, Arnold stresses the importance of a good reputation and what it means for the future of his company. “I’m third generation, so my name is very well-respected,” Arnold said. “Integrity and a good reputation keep the business going. As a developer we’ve been developing first-class projects. A lot of it has to do with having a good reputation and executing on time. If there’s an issue with a project, we’re first to address it.” CLT
WILKERSON INSULATION Wilkerson Insulation is a family owned and operated business that has been servicing South Carolina, North Carolina and Georgia since 1965. Quality service and fair prices have kept the company in business for three generations. Wilkerson Insulation was challenged on one of Arnold Constructon's apartment rehab projects — Wilkerson's staff had to enter every unit invisibly while the units were occupied to add insulation in the attics. This required close collaboration with the Arnold staff in order for the project to move smoothly. For Wilkerson Insulation, it was a pleasure working with Arnold Construction, and they look forward to working with them again. For more information call 803-513-5438 or 803-513-5442.
CAPITOL DESIGN Capitol Design is a rapidly growing full-service sign company, with roots in real estate signs since 1974. Loyal Capitol Design customers extend from South Carolina to all corners of the country. Newly opened in Lexington in 2007, the company goes above and beyond what typical sign companies offer, with unrivaled service and installation. Meeting all customer needs, the company provides expert maintenance, service, installation and sign removal. Customers find endless sign service possibilities at Capitol Design, which specializes in digital printing and laminating, vehicle graphics and lettering, dimensional letters, handcrafted sandblasted signs, bronze plaques, banners and flags, promotional products, commercial and residential real estate signs, construction site announcement signs, lighted box and LED signs, channel letters and neon, banners and grand format. Due to trustworthy and progressive sign service, the company has expanded exponentially since its opening in Lexington, S.C. Construction Leaders Today 77
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TRANSCENDING SECTOR, STYLE AND SUBSTANCE
OVER MANY DECADES, LEADERS AND CONCENTRATIONS, CONSTRUCTION ENTERPRISES, INC. HAS MAINTAINED THEIR GRASP ON THE HIGHEST QUALITY, ACHIEVING ASTOUNDING RESULTS AND NOTHING LESS THAN THE VERY BEST. by Joel Cornell
Construction Enterprises, Inc. (CEI) is a unique collaboration of two generations of multi-family construction - a union of the old and the new. Founded in 1977, the company thrived in the days before cell phones and instantaneous communication; the days when deals were sealed with a handshake and without a team of lawyers. Today, along with the multi-family industry as well, CEI has withstood the tests of time and matured into an age of sophistication and technical expertise. “Multi-family housing is a very defined segment of today’s construction industry with its own building codes and supply systems,” Bill Landers said, CEO. It is an industry that has developed elaborate designs to accommodate different lifestyles as well as elaborate construction systems to build these designs. Many architects, contractors and subcontractors specialize in this sector. “CEI embraces today’s complicated, fast-paced world of construction with computerized systems and the possibilities that technology presents us, while retaining the hard-gained experience from days past. We have a rock-solid core of experience and time-tested systems that give the consistency and accuracy that owners today appreciate,” Landers said. Landers has managed and owned Construction Enterprises, Inc. for most of its life. Today, the company is owned equally by Bill Landers and Shelby Shafer. After graduating from Auburn University in 1967 with a degree in construction engineering, Landers spent 21 years working his 80 Spring 2011
way up until he took over CEI in 1988. Shafer graduated from Auburn University in 1993 with a degree in construction engineering and joined CEI right out of college. He started with the company as a field engineer and proved his worth by working his way up through the ranks in the positions of assistant superintendent, superintendent, project manager, vice president and eventually president and co-owner. When Landers took over CEI in 1988, it was a small company licensed in Tennessee and Alabama specializing in garden apartments with an annual revenue of $40 million. By 2000 the company had branched out to include skilled nursing, assisted living and retirement living, while their annual revenue had more than doubled. As the market changed in early 2000, CEI’s operations began to focus more on urban mid-rise developments, HUD-insured, market-rate garden apartments, affordable housing and student housing projects. Today, CEI has become one of the southeastern U.S.’s top multi-family builders with an annual revenue exceeding $150 million. This distinction has been earned by learning what their clients want and helping them to achieve the goal for their project in the most efficient manner. “The day-to-day operation varies depending on the client,” Shafer said. “Some of our clients want us involved from the development stage, while others we pick up a little further along in the process. For each project we typically
put together a team made up of the different levels of management that best suits that type of project. We use the different positions within our organization to develop a balance for each project. This process acts as a means of checks that gives each job a 360 degree view to ensure that any one discipline is not over represented without regard for the others. This approach also translates well when we are working directly with architects and engineers.” Due to their unique exposure in the field, CEI has always been on the cutting edge of trends, innovations and market changes throughout every facet of the industry. The company starts each project as a hypothetical scenario based on their estimating team’s results. In reality, every member of the project team has first-hand experience with the plethora of diverse and complex issues that arise the moment a project gets off the ground. Whether these issues are positive or negative, the company is successful because it is close enough to its products to quickly recognize flaws and respond. The District at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Va., demonstrates the scope of CEI’s versatility. Construction was complete on this 308-unit, 908-bed student housing development in July 2010. The community, consisting of two four-story buildings with a five-story structured parking garage, achieved NAHB Bronze Certification. The District clubhouse is complete with multiple flat screen TV’s, tanning beds, a
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resort-style pool, a state-of-the-art fitness center and a theater room with stadium style seating. True to CEI’s determined level of achievement, they were able to deliver this project early and under budget. “The intricacy and details of our industry are amazingly overlooked by people who work in multi-family every day,” Shafer said. “That is why we spend a lot of time training our people to go beyond the face value of the plans and specs. In other words, don’t just put it together based on the plans - step back and make it make sense before you install it. And if you can’t make it make sense, get the designer, manufacturer or whomever on the phone and have them explain it.” In Lubbock, Texas, at Texas Tech University, stands a CEI project that showcases the scale on which the company thrives known as 25twenty. The entirely new construction project served as a student housing center with 249 units for a total of over 280,000 sq. ft. Their scope of expertise again served the diversity within the single project, which extended to include two courtyards, a pool, an outdoor barbecue kitchen, a hammock area, an Internet cafe, a business center, an exercise facility/tanning room, and a theatre with stadium seating. “Our lasting relationships with our clients and partners made 25twenty one of the smoothest jobs we’ve ever done,” Shafer said. “Over time, we’ve developed a system working with our partners’ engineers and architects to scrub every detail, method and process down to something of a routine at this point. The 11-story parking deck we did for the university was a great experience before, and this was just a continuation of all these great relationships.”
“It’s odd that the small details most people never notice are usually the catalyst for impeding production,” Landers said. “The multiplier in multi-family is usually high, so one or two flaws per unit can quickly translate into hundreds of problems. That’s why, throughout the process, we’re constantly questioning and self-testing many different parts of our jobs. “Although CEI is well-balanced between strong history and new innovative thinking, its real key to success has always been its management from top down philosophy. Both Shelby and myself are involved in every aspect of construction on a daily basis; and this mind set, with a tremendous amount of energy, has enabled CEI to grow and train its future leaders to handle the highly complex systems that will define our tomorrow and continue our success.” CLT
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OPPOSITE: 25Twenty Student Housing – Lubbock, Texas. ABOVE: The resort-style swimming pool at 25Twenty. BELOW: Shelby Shafer, president (TOP) and Bill Landers, CEO (BOTTOM). Photos courtesy of Construction Enterprises, Inc.
TRUSSWAY Texas-based Trussway is one of the nation’s leading manufacturers of roof trusses, floor trusses and other building components for major wood-framed projects from coast to coast. Trussway builds for light commercial, multi-family homes, apartments and military and student housing. Trussway designs, engineers and manufactures trusses to control the high level of quality demanded by today’s builders. Their designs account for varying climates such as snow buildup loads and humidity. Trussway has worked on a variety of projects with Construction Enterprises, some of which include: West M Phase 1, District at Old Dominion, Callis Hill Apartments, Reserve at Village Creek and 25Twenty Apartments. For more information on Trussway, please visit www.trussway.com Construction Leaders Today 81
regional marketplace
82 Spring 2011
regional marketplace
Construction Leaders Today 83
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Interior Construction and Design We are General Contractors with expertise at performing all aspects of interior design and construction services for residential, commercial and retail interiors. We don’t have to do it all, but we can.
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555 Fifth Avenue, 16th Floor New York, New York 10017 Phone: 646-432-7222 info@essentialdesignbuild.com http://essentialdesignbuild.com
Construction Leaders Today 85
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World Class Windows and Siding
Columbia Siding & Windows Serving North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia
Fiber Cement Siding • Vinyl Window Installations Vinyl Siding • Roofing • Gutter Installations Columbia 803-791-5969
Greenville 864-947-8818
Columbia Siding and Windows Quarter Pg Ad.indd 1
86 Spring 2011
Charleston 843-200-8319
2/8/2011 12:57:49 PM
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M &M COSMETIC SEALANTS Price, Service and Customer Satisfaction 1411 Ormsby Lane
Louisville, Kentucky 40222-3827
Office 502-445-8612
Fax 502-749-7814
Email: mcfarljw3@insightbb.com
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Construction Leaders Today 89
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INTERNATIONAL 92 MONOLITHIC CONSTRUCTORS 98 INDIA GLOBALIZATION CAPITAL
A cone crusher. Photo courtesy of India Globalization Capital
international
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Strength, Form and Function. sustainable dome homes that will blow you away by Joel Cornell 92 Spring 2011
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Construction Leaders Today 93
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Monolithic Constructors, Inc. has perfected a new structural system that will change more than our buildings; it will change the way we view space and the future our space will inhabit.
D
espite the constant development of new technologies, techniques and materials involved in the process of building structures, the way we view our buildings and the way they are built hasn’t changed in years. However, revolutionary change always comes slowly, step by step. Monolithic Constructors, Inc. is one of those steps. As a teenager, David South's mind was keen on the idea of space and how things were put together. His vision focused when he heard inventor and engineer R. Buckminster “Bucky” Fuller on the radio. “At school, I heard Bucky on the radio and he was talking about the idea of geodesic domes,” South said. “All I had ever read about domed structures came from science fiction. So many ‘cities of the future’ consisted entirely of these
94 Spring 2011
brilliantly shining domed buildings. Suddenly, those images became a reality and a goal for me.” South continued in his career, but continued to follow the work of Fuller, designing and constructing geodesic domes. After spending 15 years engineering such structures, South and his family became disenchanted with geodesic and developed the monolithic dome. They currently hold five patents for them. “Bucky was a great inspiration to me. I love what he accomplished and his ability to think clearly and creatively,” South said. “But, I thought he kind of went down the wrong path in moving towards a structure that in the end is equally as traditional as any other standard form of building. It’s the same box, just with the corners lopped off. What we’re after now is a structure that you can build easily, rapidly and cheaply, with a lifespan of centuries, incredible energy efficiency, natural insulation and the ability to withstand the worst that nature can
throw at an owner.” Unable to find a job in Idaho similar to his work in Chicago, South quickly began investing in and working with the newest upcoming technologies which integrated polyurethane into the construction process. After working with a supplier to obtain the inexpensive material, he started building domed structures using a new and unique process. South’s new model structure initially took off in Idaho’s potato farming market, as the natural insulation and watertight design were ideal conditions for storage. THIS PAGE: Pensacola Beach, Fla. Before the Santa Rosa Island Authority would approve the conceptual plans for this dome, the clients had to provide written confirmation of acceptance from their neighbors. An overwhelming 97 percent of the neighbors and business owners were encouraging and very supportive. Having also been victims of hurricanes and rising insurance costs, the islanders were eager to learn about a structure that is built to survive the harsh beach environment. This home survived the devastating 2005 hurricanes Ivan and Dennis.
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In 1974, South founded Monolithic Constructors, Inc. and just one year later, the company was doing half of the polyurethane insulation west of the Mississippi and $10-12 million annually in revenue. As the press began to spread, South’s design market opened up before his eyes. The company’s first custom domed residence was finished in 1977 and they have continued to spread their work throughout every sector, industry and vertical around the world. The monolithic dome process begins with a reinforced concrete foundation. An airform, what is basically PVC welded together as a super-heavy mold, is attached to this foundation and is then inflated using a large fan. Workers use an airlock to enter the newly inflated dome to complete the process. As the force of the air holds the dome up, workers spray the inside with three inches of polyurethane -- the world’s best insulation. Rebar is then tied in a grid to the underside of the polyurethane. Once the rebar is in place, shotcrete is applied to the interior surface. The airform becomes the single ply roof membrane and the end result is a single, concrete shell created using a fraction of the manpower, energy and materials needed to build a structure of the same size. A monolithic dome averages a 75 percent reduction in energy consumption. This means that the buildings’ owners only need one quarter of the assumed need for air conditioning and heating systems. In 1980, Monolithic Constructors, Inc. built a 34,000 sq. ft. church in Houston, Texas which LEFT THREE: The Cunningham home, named Atalaya del Vulcan, features a Mission Revival style of architecture. This spacious 4,200 sq. ft. home includes a Monolithic Dome with a 60-foot diameter, two floors, 12 rooms, a center court and an atrium that boasts a waterfall and a decorative concrete tree. BOTTOM: The monolithic dome offices in Italy, Texas.
ZZ CONSULTING The popularity of dome structures has skyrocketed as more are built as event centers, schools, homes, storage facilities and churches. Domes are very energy efficient and use less material, making lowering costs and raising benefits. ZZ Consulting specializes in domes and thin-shell concrete design and provides proficient and innovative engineering. For more information, please visit www.zzconsulting.com or call (208) 357-5571.
Construction Leaders Today 95
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totaled $4 million in construction costs. Only 13 years later, the facility has paid for itself due to what the structure would have cost using traditional materials and designs as well as what they saved on energy costs. Because each monolithic dome exceeds every standard for a designated public storm shelter, many owners can receive funds from FEMA for the use of their building during natural disasters. For developing countries Monolithic has developed a non-insulated variety called an Ecoshell. Using just $1,000 worth of materials, Monolithic Constructors, Inc. can build a comfortable home that will easily accommodate a 96 Spring 2011
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family of eight. With overhead costs like labor, transportation, etc., the total price ends up around $2,500. This gives unprecedented access to the developing world and those struck by the worst natural disasters. Through funding from the World Bank, Monolithic Constructors, Inc. is scheduled to build 100,000 new buildings for families and businesses in Haiti after the devastating earthquake in 2010. In 2001, an earthquake in Gujarat, India killed nearly 20,000 people and destroyed nearly 400,000 homes. Monolithic Constructors, Inc. had 100 structures ready for occupancy within weeks. The company has built above the Arctic Circle and on every continent except Antarctica -- those plans
are in the works. Because of the widespread availability of all materials required, and the general ease of the construction process, South now spends the majority of his time advancing the design of the Monolithic Dome and teaching others how it’s done. “We’d like to give a set guarantee on our structures, but it’s difficult because we’re not really sure how long these domes truly last,” South said. “Our best guess is measured in centuries. These buildings have seen earthquakes, forest fires, flood, war, bombings, everything. These buildings will not fall down on their own. They must be torn down.”
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LEFT: A schematic cutaway of the layers of the final Monolithic Dome. Photos courtesy of Monolothic Constructors.
Construction Leaders Today 97
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Crushing the
Competition 98 Spring 2011
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With roots firmly planted across Asia,
India Globalization Capital
is branching into North America by Rebecca Rodriguez
| international
S
ince its inception in 2005, India Globalization Capital, Inc. has positioned itself as one of the few U.S. materials and infrastructure companies serving India and China. Based in Bethesda, MD, with operations in India, IGC has strategically repositioned its business model during the past year to focus more on its iron ore and rock aggregate materials businesses. Rising prices and strong demand for exports of iron ore to China bodes well for IGC. The company has contracts in place with Chinese steel mills to provide more than $200 million of iron ore during the next few years. Much of the rise in prices is driven by China’s rapid economic development. With a $1.55 trillion economy, China imports half of the iron ore that is produced worldwide, said Ram Mukunda, CEO and president.
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PREVIOUS SPREAD: The conveyor belts direct crushed rock into piles according to size, type and shape. THIS SPREAD: Three types of crushers, jaw, VSI and cone (pictured) are used to crush rock into different sizes, types and shapes, which are then screened and directed to the appropriate conveyor belt. Photos courtesy of India Globalization Capital
China’s demand for steel is skyrocketing as it focuses on building out its cities and highway system. As the third largest exporter of iron ore, India is well positioned to serve China’s demand. “India and China’s infrastructure industries are growing very quickly which means they are in need of a lot of basic materials,” Mukunda said. IGC currently has two rock aggregate quarries in India and continues to seek teaming agreements with land owners to build out many more rock quarries. India is the third largest rock aggregate market in the world with production forecasted to reach about one billion tons in the next nine years. The market in India for rock aggregate has increased an about eight percent annually over the past 10 years compared to the global average of just over 4 percent with roughly 40 percent of the demand being for crushed stone. “Demand for rock aggregate is so strong and construction is so fast that we’re building out rock aggregate quarries in India as quickly as we can,” Mukunda said. “Rock aggregate is used mostly for the building of railways, power plants, dams and roads. The market is fragmented with lots of small players. But IGC’s use of large crushers allows it to control the quality of the rock and puts us ahead of the competition. “It’s a fragmented market, but the large crushers give us the opportunity to consolidate that market. With India poised to accelerate its infrastructure build-out, the demand for rock aggregate is expected to increase substantially. The government of India recognizes the critical importance of the infrastructure build- out and is offering incentives for the development of quarries, which we are taking full advantage of. We think we are becoming increasingly well positioned to take full advantage of this exceptional opportunity.” Richard Prins, board member, says IGC's management team, both in the US and India, has done a superior job positioning the company to participate in building the infrastructure in two of the world's fastest growing economies. "Today, there is no other U.S.-based, publicly traded company with the operations in place to seize this opportunity. We are still relatively small, however," Prins said. "The key going forward is finding the resources and key industry partnerships to fully exploit the opportunities which are so huge and expanding so quickly. This is a big challenge with an even bigger upside if we can execute.” Because of the incredible demand for iron ore and rock aggregate, as well as IGC’s ability to handle the logistics of acquiring the ore and exporting it to China, there is an opportunity for a high return on investment, said Robert Poole, a member of the management board at Bricoleur Partners, L.P., a hedge fund that is an investor in IGC. “It is important to have relationships in India and to be local,” Poole said, referring to Mukunda's strong connections with mine owners which put him in the unique position of enabling IGC to have a considerable amount of strength in the market. “There are very few people who can do what Ram does. He is working extremely hard to make IGC successful and I see a high return opportunity with this company.” CLT Construction Leaders Today 101
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The Solar Company Nicole Wonderlin 20861 Wilbeam Ave Ste 1 Castro Valley, CA 94546 510-888-9488
Nello Wall Systems 6685 Santa Barbara Rd Elkridge, MD 21075 443-253-8811
Minnicks Heating & Cooling 301-953-2820
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Don Stevens Co 980 Discovery Rd Eagan, MN 55121 651-452-0872
ESG 4655 Rosebud Lane Newburgh, IN 47630 812-492-3734
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VendRick 367 Collar Price Rd Brookfield, OH 44403 330-448-4600
Alexander Metals, Inc 497 Cave Rd. Nashville, TN 37210 615-256-6070 Sundek (Superior Concrete Resurfacing) PO Box 1705 Goodlettsville, TN 37070
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Pauly Jail Building Co 317-580-0833 Steel Ceilings, Inc Grant Snowden 451 E. Coshocton St Johnstown, OH 43031 800-848-0496 Landscapes Inc 88 Rogers Ln Richmond, VT 5477 802-434-3500 Lighthouse Solar 4 Cherry Hill Rd New Paltz, NY 12561 845-417-3485 Next Energy Corp 1110 Burnett Ave. Ste. E Concord, CA 94520 925-798-0600 MBB Enterprises of Chicago 3352 W. Grand Ave Chicago, IL 60651 773-278-7100
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Chamberlain Construction Co. 2864 Hartland Road Falls Church, VA 22043 703-698-1715 T6, Inc. 101 Green Meadows Dr. South/ Ste 110 Lewis Center, OH 43035 614-880-2555 DA Lighting Studio 3335 Stockbridge Ave Los Angeles, CA 90032 323-387-2494 Northern American Weathermakers 847-509-2173 Ted Docteur Ironworks 406-370-4250 Timber Builders 1853 South Camas Lane Hamilton, MT 59840 406-363-0855 San Marino Security Systems 2405 Huntington Dr San Marino, CA 91108 626-285-7778 Norwegian Wood Sheila Ruham 942 Grand Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11211 718-218-8880 Michael Allen Inc. 440 Broadway/2R Brooklyn, NY 11211 718-782-8490 TMP Consulting Engineers 52 Temple Place Boston, MA 02111 617-357-6060 Western Pacific Electric 23615 137th Dr. SE Snohomish, WA 98296 360-669-3959 Matson Carlson & Assoc. 15658 Point Monroe Dr. NE Bainbridge Island, WA 98110 206-447-9558 Dynamic Productions 149 Main St Nanuet, NY 10954 845-624-5101 Bizier Electric 733 Washington St. Brighton, MA 2135 617-787-0023 Lopez Construction & Design 3032 E 1/2 Rd Grand Junction, CO 81504 970-434-5954 Albert M. Higley Co. 2926 Chester Ave Cleveland, OH 44114 216-861-2050
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614-221-6679 LR Nelson Engineers 6765 West Russell Rd Ste 200 Las Vegas, NV 89118 702-798-7978
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Hess Mechanical 9600 Fallard Ct Upper Marlboro, MD 20772 301-856-4700
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Quaker Windows 504 Highway 63 South Freeburg, MO 65035 573-744-5211
Elk Mountain Construction Co. 1950 N. Willow Cookeville, TN 38501 931-372-7424
Alumicor 290 Humberline Dr Toronto, ON 416-745-4222
Thomas Builders 855 W. Wilson St. Niota, TN 37826 423-568-2134
Conditioned Air 241 South St Macon, GA 32106 478-742-8768
Knell’s Door & Hardware 2090 Shirley Dr Kitchener, ON 519-743-4344
Starrett Electric 110 West Court Dyersburg, TN 38025 731-442-0890
Super Enterprises 1877 McFarland Pkwy Alpharetta, GA 30005 678-393-9188
Sound Solutions 416-740-0303
Saia Trim Group 8110 Cordova Rd Ste 115 Memphis, TN 38016 901-751-7442
Zandur 80 Nottingham Dr. Nottingham, PA 19362 610-932-4390
Mid South Glass 330 South Pkwy Memphis, TN 38112 901-947-4146 Hotel Resource Group 968 Civic Center Dr. Collierville, TN 38017 901-854-6607 Pride Construction 315 Mann Dr. Collierville, TN 38017 901-854-8683
Wallace Int’l 705-434-2837
MTE Consultants 520 Bingemans Centre Dr Kitchener, ON 519-743-6500 Glasstra Calle 4 Esq. A-7 Catano, PR 962 787-788-5658
Arborite 385 Lafleur Lasalle, QC 514-595-2661
Urban Planning Concepts 2624 Airpark Dr. Santa Maria, CA 93455 805-934-5760
The Melink Co. 5140 River Valley Rd Milford, OH 45150 513-965-7308
FACE Associates 1420 Beverly Rd Ste 230 McLean, VA 22101 7037600490
Verdin Company 444 Reading Rd Cincinnati, OH 45202 513-241-4010 Palacio Collaborative 1425 Ellsworth Industrial Blvd NW Ste 7 Atlanta, GA 30318 404-609-9006
Carpen House PO Box 554 Little Falls, NY 13365 877-396-3302
Alliance Technologies 1301 Wellington Valley Ct Ste 201 St. Louis, MO 63005 636-734-2337
Summerhill Landscapes 6 Shaw Road Sag Harbor, NY 11963 631-725-0005
Humidifall 5988 Mid Rivers Mall Dr. Ste 234 St. Charles. MO 63304 636-928-8855
Shan Engineering, Inc 9039 Katy Freeway Ste 216 Houston, TX 77024 832-615-9308
Upstate Door 26 Industrial Street Warsaw, NY 14569 585-786-3880
Marvin Doors & Windows 2714 Mercanile Dr Brentwood, MO 63144 314-646-5130
Stony Bridge Landscaping 1800 Cornwall Rd Lebanon, PA 17042 717-274-3595
SRK Pools 370 Montauk Highway Wainscott, NY 11975 631-537-3750
Leach Painting Co. 1233 Hanley Industrial Ct. Brentwood, MO 63144 314-961-4100
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Imperial Gunite Corp 81 Commercial Ave Oakdale, NY 11769 631-287-2455
Golterman & Sabo 3555 Scarlet Oak Blvd St. Louis, MO 63122 800-781-2036
Tom Orner 200 Gale St Mechanicsburg, PA 17055 717-576-9435
Fountainhead Construction 2228 Montauk Hwy Ste 5 Bridgehampton, NY 11932 631-537-6841
Pool Covers Inc 707-864-6674
Hall Planning & Engineering 322 Beard St Tallahassee, FL 32303 850-222-2277
Century Builders 229 Red Coach Dr/Ste 104 Mishawaka, IN 46545 574-277-4171
HzW Environmental Consultants 6105 Heisley Rd Mentor, OH 44060 440-357-1260
Sweetwater Interiors 212 West Washington St Goshen, IN 46526 574-534-3989
Paul J. Ford & Co. 250 E. Broad St. Ste 1500 Columbus, OH 43215
Adamo & Assoc. Structural Engineers 21060 Homestead Rd/Ste 120 Cupertino, CA 95014 408-523-1200 Ferrante Koberling 1040 N. Laurel Ave # 8 Los Angeles, CA 90046 323-206-1663 Tortoise Industries 3052 Treadwell Street
JMR Electric 137 Thames Rd East Exeter, ON 0 519-235-1516 John Swallow Associates 366 Revus Ave/Unit 23 Mississuaga, ON 0 905-271-7888
Monarc Construction 2781 Hartland Rd Falls Church, VA 22043 703-641-8500 Interior Investments 205 W. Wacker Dr/Ste 1700 Chicago, IL 60606 312-212-5126 Herner-Geissler 400 N Hermitage Ave Chicago, IL 60622 312-226-3400 Dovetail Millwork 5414 Waterford Rd Rixeyville, VA 22737 540-937-7741 WoodWorking Wonders 5250 Raleigh St Denver, CO 80212 720-300-9400 Masterpiece Stair 2250 S. Jason St. Denver, CO 80224 303-922-5700 Academy Roofing 1610 Jasper St Aurora, CO 80011 303-360-0708 Superior Enterprises 871 Thornton Pkwy Ste 184 Thornton, CO 80229 303-472-7749 Morning Star Elevator 11641 Ridgeline Dr Colorado Springs, CO 80921 719-635-7960
Construction Leaders Today 103
advertiser index
C&F Enterprises 57 Snowmass Dr Livermore, CO 80536 970-372-7438
AV Design Group 52 Sherwood Rd Hampton Bays, NY 11946 631-728-6600
J&S Structural Engineers 10551 Barkley St/Ste 601 Overland Park, KS 66212 913-549-4701
Resource Furniture 969 Third Ave New York, NY 10155 212-753-2039
Thos. Rewerts & Co. 4550 Main St/Ste 216 Kansas City, MO 64111 816-531-2666
Schield Family Brands (Weather Shield) PO Box 309 One Weather Shield Plaza Medford, WI 54451 715-748-2100 x3723
Choicewood Companies 3300 Gorham Ave St. Louis Park, MN 55426 952-924-0443 Graystone Builders PO Box 1768 Bridgehampton, NY 11932 631-537-1414 Gilkey 10160 Virginia Ave Chicago Ridge, IL 60415 708-229-2340 David Conner & Assoc. 1509 W Swann Ave/Ste 255 Tampa, FL 33606 813-258-1997 Phillips/May Corp 4861 Sharp St Dallas, TX 75247 214-631-3331 Reeder General Construction 109 Aviator Dr Fort Worth, TX 76052 817-439-2022 Boro Plastering 95 Hopper St/2nd FL Westbury, NY 11590 516-746 Integrated Comfort Systems 267 Cortlandt St Belleville, NJ 07109 866-749-6331 B&H Restoration 3455 Vernon Blvd Long City, NY 11106 718-274-5598 St. John’s Woodworking 68 34th St Brooklyn, NY 11232 718-499-0584 Charles W. Beers, Inc. PO Box 133, 175 Post Ave Westbury, NY 11590 516-334-2045 Capitol Fire Sprinklers Co. Inc 5151 59th Pl. Woodside, NY 11377 718-533-6800 Ferra Designs, Inc. 63 Flushing Ave/Unit 135 Brooklyn, NY 11201 718-852-8629 PCI Industries 21717 Rebublic St Oak Park, MI 48237 248-542-2570 Rich Duncan Construction 200 Hawthrone Ave SE Salem, OR 97301 503-390-4999 STUDIOHOWE PO Box 1564 Amagansete, NY 11930 646-621-1121
104 Spring 2011
Standards of Excellence 6085 State Farm Dr/Ste 200 Rohnert Park, CA 94928 650-591-2337 Cool Painting Inc 8946 Sage Rd Oakland, CA 94605 415-359-4551 Breen Engineering, Inc. 1983 West 190 St/ste 200 Torrance, CA 90504 310-464-8404 Turner & Townsend 1 Westchase Cntr; 10777 Westheimer/Ste1160 Houston, TX 77042 281-496-5615 The Garland Company, Inc. 3800 East 91st St Clevelan, OH 44105 800-762-8225 Belden Brick Company PO Box 20910 Canton, OH 44701 330456-0031 CEC Steel 400 Ft. Martin Industrial Pk Maindsville, WV 26541 304-598-3055 Double D Engineering 72 Otis St San Francisco, CA 94103 415-551-5150 Audio Video Excellence 17 Gramercy Pl Thornwood, NY 10594 914-747-1411 Concord Sheet Metal 1666 Willow Pass Pittsburg, CA 94565 925-680-8723 Great Bay Contracting 41 Degnon Blvd Ste A Bayshore, NY 11706 631-665-5091 Gerold Brothers Builders 81 Keyland Ct Bohemia, NY 11716 631-589-5492 International Construction 4205 Hardscrabble Rd Columbia, SC 29223 803-699-5106 Diamond Land Scaping 26 N Commerce St Liberty, SC 29657 864-449-3525 Wilson Painting 743 Wilson Rd NewBerry, SC 29108 803-924-3131
Executive Construction Eddie Yandle 803-462-0884 Eric Gunter Construction 803-319-4501 Creative Outdoor Designs, Inc 803-732-3620 Columbia Siding & Windows 656 Frink St Cayle, SC 29033 803-791-5969 H&H Contractors 101 Morning Lake Dr Lexington, SC 29072 803-513-9623 Wilkerson Insulation Company 1611 Sain Andrews Terrace Rd Columbia, SC 29210 803-513-5438
The Workman PO Box 110723 Nashville, TN 37222 615-244-8262
Standard Electric Co. PO Box 43216 Louisville, KY 43216 502-253-9885
FL Crane/FLC Imports 508 South Spring S PO Box 428 Fulton, MS 38843 901-277-9122
L&W Construction CO. 1132 S Rangeline Rd Carmel, IN 46032 317-846-6134
AET 1722 Indian Wood Circle Maumee, OH 43537 734-730-2724 MidSouth Steel, Inc 16949 Highway 1 Harrisburg, AR 72432 870-578-9276
M&M Cosmetic Sealants 1411 Ormsby Lane Louisville, KY 40222 502-445-8612 Padgett, Inc. 901 E. Fourth St New Albany, IN 47150 812-206-8620
SM Lawrence Jackson, TN 38301 731-423-0112
Walker Mechanical 1400 W. Jefferson St Louisville, KY 40203 502-636-0002
Simplex Grinnell 6423 Shelby View Dr/Ste 107 Memphis, TN 38134 901-386-0532
Alcoa Concrete & Masonry 4908 46th Ave Ste B Hyattsville, MD 20781 301-699-9300
Razorback Concrete Co. 211 North Sixth St West Memphis, AR 72303 870-735-8610
Senate Masonry 3750 University Blvd W Ste 200 Kensington, MD 20895 301-816-0013
Total Flooring, LLC 803-794-1848
McCombs Steel Co. 117 Slingshot Rd Statesville, NC 28677 704-873-7563
Triangle Fence Co Ronda, NC 12345 336-984-3961
Aqua Seal MFG & Roofing 1144 Walter Price St. Cayce, SC 29033 803-936-0420
Viridian 100 Gamble Rd Little Rock, AR 72211 501-227-0648
Southern Vistas, Inc. 2825 Commerce Dr. Columbia, SC 29205 803-256-0559
Engineering Design Consultants 9700 Village Cir./Ste 200 Lakeland, TN 38002 901-462-3040
Apax Glass 4146 S 70th East Ave Tulsa, OK 74145 918-65-7601
Environmental Excavators 2303 Hackney Rd Greenbriar, TN 37073 615-207-3610
Architectural Flooring LLC 31 South Adair St Pryor, OK 74361 918-824-8544
Ortex Virgil Hicks 80 Fesslers Ln Nashville, TN 37210 615-256-7381
Terratec, Inc 1350 Methodist Park Rd West Columbia, SC 29170 803-791-8888 Jim’s Welding 803-739-2555 Capitol Design PO Box 532 White Rock, SC 29177 803-808-1600
Harrison Orr 4100 N. Walnut Oklahoma City, OK 73105 405-528-3333 Mitchell Acoustics & Drywall, Inc 3721 S. Missouri Ave Oklahoma City, OK 73129 405-677-8400 Trussway Ltd 8850 Trussway Blvd Orlando, FL 32824 281-733-8459 Blue Haven Pools of NC 10020 Industrial Dr Pinceville, NC 28134 704-889-1300 GEO Services 163 Business Park Dr. Ste 15 Lebanon, TN 37087 615-547-9314 Madison Swimming Pools 1416 Dickerson Rd Goodlettsville, TN 37072 615-865-2964
India Globalization Capital, Inc 4336 Montgomery Ave Bethesda, MD 20814 301-983-0998 ZZ Consulting 1086 North 900 East Shelley, ID 83274 208-357-5571 SuperTile 4226 Scone St Houston, TX 77084 832-250-4244 Xella Aircrete 900 Schneider Dr Cibolo, TX 78108 210-402-3223 CMS USA 5072 Steadmond Dr Houston, TX 77040 713-690-6868 Solidarity Contracting 10100 W. Sam Houston Pkwy S. Ste 340 Houston, TX 77099 281-495-6777
Mike Adams Plumbing 601 M and M Ranch Rd Granbury, TX 76049 817-573-4414 Peterson Mfg. Co. PO Box 664 Denison, IA 51442 712-263-2442 East Texas Canopy 11221 Cr. 2130 Whitehouse, TX 75791 903-839-2091 Millcon 15280 W. State Hwy 29 Liberty Hill, TX 78642 512-289-8550 Valley Security Co. 88 Riverwood Dr. Oswego, IL 60543 630-554-1090 Millcon 15280 W. State Hwy 29 Liberty Hill, TX 78642 512-289-8550 Valley Security Co. 88 Riverwood Dr. Oswego, IL 60543 630-554-1090 Ontility 3403 N. Sam Houston Pkwy Ste 300 Houston, TX 77086 281-854-1407 Schletter 3761 E Farnum Place Tucson, AZ 85706 520-289-8721