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CONSTRUCTION
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The Industry’s Newspaper www.constructionnews.net
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Volume 14
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Number 8
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AUGUST 2017
No room for failure
Blowing bubbles
L-R: Chris Harclerode, owner, and Jose Valencia, partner
Paul Stroade on his off-time enjoying his backyard
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hris Harclerode, owner, and Jose Valencia started Advanced Glass Solutions only six months ago, but the company is quickly becoming the goto for commercial glass installation throughout Houston and the surrounding areas. According to Valencia, it was an “overnight decision” for Harclerode and him to start their business. “Doors opened up and we had endless opportunities to do what we needed to do to make this happen.” Valencia admits that it’s been “one good adventure so far.” They know this is just the beginning though, and there are some naysayers out there, but they refuse to listen to them. “We took a chance, but we came in with our eyes wide open. We knew what
we were getting ourselves into and we put in 100 percent every day. Chris and I are up here seven days a week.” Jose gives credit to Harclerode by saying he made this opportunity possible and that “no matter what, he’s always going to have his back.” It’s evident that failure is not an option for the company. “So far we haven’t seen a downside yet, and we don’t want to. All we can do is keep striving, keep moving,” Valencia shares. That’s what they have been doing. After acquiring a warehouse in the Spring Branch area, they spent two months building an office space upstairs with a kitchen area. The company was given its first big break from a contractor Valencia has continued on Page 13
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aul Stroade and Chad Kirby come from different backgrounds but came together to create F3 Foam. Stroade’s background is in finance and accounting in the construction industry, and Kirby worked in construction with a foam insulation company for 10 years. “Both of us were at the point in our lives where we wanted to own our own company and control our destiny,” Stroade said. “We were both nearly 40 years old and knew it was the time to do it. We sat down one day and decided to start a foam company in addition to the construction.” F3 Foam started in Nov. 2015 after examining the landscape of the growing Houston area market.
“We live on the north side of Houston, and Conroe was named as the fastest growing town in the United States,” Stroade said. “Montgomery County has to be one of the top counties in the state. We saw all the construction spreading out here and it was what Chad knew best.” F3 Foam has two trucks and seven employees, but that will change before too long. “We are growing so fast, it’s hard to keep up right now,” Stroade said. “We’re as busy as we’ve ever been and are really in need of expanding our fleet with at least one or two more trucks. “You don’t want to grow too fast because you can’t afford to string out continued on Page 13
Far from basic
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change with the glass wall space halfway through the project, Bennett and his team were still able to complete the project on time. “The space has a very cool layout and front entry area for clients with the LED backlit glass panel flat screens built into the portal structures,” Bennett explains. Designer Holly McKenzie, with Carson Design Associates, helped create a space that is modern and smart. The conference room includes a U-shaped white table with white office chairs. Unlike most conference rooms, which can seem stiff and stuffy, this one is open and provides space for clients and employees to walk around. The window space has a slanted design at the top, which makes the room seem larger as well. The focal point of this room is the multi-screen wall display. This allows for interactive presentations and employees can hold meetings via Skype or
pon entering the new Accenture office, a person might feel like they are stepping into the future, and they are – the future of construction and design. Travis Bennett, the Project Manager from Basic Builders Inc., was able to complete the 6,400sf renovation in 12 weeks, even with some major setbacks. “We had some issues with the city approving some of our materials that were being used, but I was able to get approval in the end,” shares Bennett. Accenture uses strategies with innovative technology to help solve their clients’ challenges and they needed an office space to project that. The NanaWall glass systems, which were installed to help create a high-tech, futuristic look and feel, also form an area that is open and welcoming. Although there was a major design The entrance to Accenture’s office provides multiple computer stations.
continued on Page 13