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 R Y www.constructionleaderstoday.com
Building Brighter MURRAY & STAFFORD
Teaming up to bring sensible green technology to the masses, this ground breaking new firm has the best minds from around the world working on our future.
WEST | GENERAL CONTRACTING
When Colorado-based company Murray & Stafford, Inc. was hired to construct the country’s first recycled concrete, tilt-up warehouse project, neither the break-neck timeline nor the advanced building techniques deterred them from getting the job done. by Paige L. Hill
Building Brighter
T
he “brightest” minds from Germany have come to work in the U.S. thanks to the recently completed Enterprise Park courtesy of Murray & Stafford, Inc. which built the first recycled concrete, tilt-up warehouse to house SMA Solar Technology’s U.S. manufacturing, distribution and U.S. headquarters. “This was a very unique project and a unique partnership for us with the developer,” Joel Scott said, who serves as CEO of Murray & Stafford, Inc. after 12 years with the company. For the self-described “homegrown” construction company which was established in 1966, the project was certainly a testament to their work ethic and also a return of sorts to the company’s roots, which was in building spec warehouses. The Enterprise Park complex includes three buildings, a 170,000 sq. ft. plant for SMA Solar Technology, and two sister flex buildings – 147,000 sq. ft. each. All of the buildings incorporated green building practices and materials, but the warehouse in particular boasted the most. “This is the first tilt-up warehouse project in the country to be built using recycled concrete, but we didn’t stop there,” Scott said. “We used recycled steel, asphalt and high-efficiency mechanical equipment in the building. We went as far as putting a wind turbine to power the perimeter lights around the entire park.” The recently LEED accredited staff at Murray & Stafford were up to the task, the real challenge lay in the whiplash-paced schedule that they had been asked to accommodate. “This was a fast-track, design-build, turnkey process – luckily, that's exactly where we excel. For this size of a warehouse, we moved very very quickly,” Scott said. Fast track indeed. Murray & Stafford, Inc. moved through each 2 Construction Leaders Today
phase of the plant on a month-by-month basis: designing, building and fitting it out for use. The team was hired in October of 2010 and on January 15th the next year they turned over the first phase for use, on February 15th the second, and on March 15th the third. “Design-build takes on various forms, and for us it was all about communication and coordination,” Scott said. “We worked in conjunction with an architect and engineer and from there put together our entire team. We also formed a partnership with our subcontractors to elicit their services as needed on this tight timeline.” For the city of Denver, Colo. where Enterprise Park is located, they willingly fast-tracked the building permit process in order to accommodate the German business that would bring 700 new jobs to the area. “When times are tough and everyone is struggling for work, it was great knowing that we have been a part of bringing these jobs to the area,” Scott said. “For them it was a great introduction to the city, and for us it was the most rewarding part of this project.” The state-of-the-art solar manufacturer took note and have hired Murray & Stafford to construct their second U.S. manufacturing plant. This one promises to be even more advanced with solar photocells on the roof to power the building’s electricity. “We may have evolved what we offer in terms of construction services as we grow and stay on the cutting edge, but our philosophy has never changed. We develop relationships with our clients instead of chasing individual projects,” Scott said. “We find honorable people with whom we would like to do business and stick with them. We have found that our loyalty has been rewarded over and over.” CLT
GENERAL CONTRACTING | WEST
OPPOSITE: The Enterprise Park in Denver, Colo. was built for premier solar company SMA Solar Technology. It presents a first in green building for the U.S. — the first recycled concrete, tilt-up warehouse. THIS PAGE, TOP: One of the two “sister” buildings Murray & Stafford built for SMA Solar, each 147,000 sq. ft., uses green building practices and materials, but also brought 700 new jobs to the city of Denver. MIDDLE RIGHT: The U.S. headquarters of SMA Solar houses manufacturing distribution and operations including 170,000 sq. ft. plant, pictured here. BOTTOM: Another shot of the exterior of Enterprise Park in Denver, Colo. Can’t depict the cleverly hidden solar photocells on the roof, which will power the building’s electricity. Photos courtesy of Murray & Stafford.
Fall 2011 3
Murray & Stafford, Inc. 5120 Osage Street, Suite 100 Denver, Colorado 80221 Phone: 303.420.0234