Midlands
Business Journal SEPTEMBER 8, 2017
THE WEEKLY BUSINESS PAPER OF GREATER OMAHA, LINCOLN AND COUNCIL BLUFFS
MCL Construction thrives with complexity of projects by Richard D. Brown
In its 30th year of operation, Omahabased MCL Construction is enjoying a complex and diverse portfolio of projects that ranges from the Cloisters on the Platte retreat center, a sterile processing facility for Nebraska Medicine and a new home for the Creighton School of Dentistry to converting a former grocery store structure into the home of a relatively new church, a new branch for Centris Credit Union, a new surgical wing on Methodist Hospital, and a innovative baseball complex with the installation of artificial turf at Creighton Prep. “Our philosophy and what we’ve taught our employees is that each project needs to be approached with a sense of urgency,” said President Bob Carlisle. “Ultimately it’s about overall satisfaction when we are done.” MCL Construction, which has grown From left, Executive Vice President Gary Leapley, President Bob Carlisle and Senior from 100 to about 160 employees since 2012, is now completing at least 300 proj- Vice President Tony Fucinaro at a project site, Creighton School of Dentistry … The ects a year as one of the largest locally- construction firm has taken on a wide variety of projects. (Photo by MBJ / Noel Hoig) laneous steel totaling 1,440 tons. That totals owned general contractors in the Omaha- Medicine. Fucinaro said MCL Construction’s 2,880,000 pounds that MCL Construction Council Bluffs area. At present, MCL Construction is work- virtual design department assisted in help- Superintendent Jim Fleissner said speaks ing on its first major project in the Des ing coordinate the project and significantly well of his firm’s planning and work with trade partner Davis Erection. Moines area — a 225,000-square-foot control its costs. “This is one of “We were able to plan and cooroffice building in the only five such fa- dinate months before we even startWestfield develop- MCL Construction cilities in the country ed setting the steel,” Fleissner said. ment in West Des Phone: 402-339-2221 and it will replace six “When you have the right plan and Moines. The client, Address: 14124 Industrial Road, Omaha rooms in different t h e r i g h t t e a m i t m a k e s e v e r y t h i n g R&R Realty, has had 68144 buildings that Ne- look easy.” activity in the eastern Services: pre-construction (including braska Medicine has A portion of a former Hy-Vee store Nebraska area over preliminary evaluation and estimates, value management, solicitation of competitive been using for the structure just south of Oak View Mall is the past decade. sterilization of equip- being renovated for Citylight Church. In “We’ll see,” Carl- subcontractor bids) and construction manment,” he said. “It’s addition to a new façade, structural steel isle said, when asked agement (including supervision and field a highly mechanical is being added to the interior along with if additional projects engineering, permits and approvals, project building being built other enhancements to make the large are possible in central safety programs) and virtual design and high-definition scanning. o n a n a c c e l e r a t e d square footage look more like a traditional Iowa. Founded: 1987 by Jim Meyers and Bob schedule, with re- church. Carlisle, Execu- Carlisle quirements for a very Crews are about halfway done with a tive Vice President Employees: 160 high level of cleanli- 17-operating room addition to the south Gary Leapley, Se- One-year goal: Get real good at (growth) ness and some use side of Methodist Hospital. nior Vice President level at which the company is currently of owner-provided “Over the past five years the technology Tony Fucinaro and performing. equipment.” available to us has exploded and the chalBusiness Develop- Industry outlook: The shortage of skilled Carlisle, a Uni- lenge for us in building is being driven by ment Director Tra- craftsmen in a continual challenge nationversity of Nebraska standardization and efficiency,” Leapley vis Justice echo that ally. at Omaha business said. MCL Construction Website: www.mclconstruction.com marketing graduate, Leapley, a graduate of Iowa State’s has plenty on its plate said one of the largest construction engineering program and a at present. Fucinaro, a 2003 graduate of Iowa State projects at present is the construction of 21-year veteran of MCL Construction, University and 14-year firm veteran, said Creighton University’s new dental school said the biggest specific challenge is apthe 12-story Capitol District Apartments building. The structure is about half com- plying what’s new to such a wide array of is set for completion later this month. A plete and will be able to accommodate more building projects. Cloisters on the Platte, a Jesuit retreat differentiating factor is the structural metal students and facilitate use of teaching laboframing and pre-fabrication work done for ratories with a nearby area, where dental along the Platte River, involves a 45,000 procedures can be performed by students. square foot main building, arrival gatethe project at 225 N. 12th St. The 200,000-square-foot facility is us- house, and other structures and is one of Another project nearing completion is a sterile processing facility for Nebraska ing 8,900 pieces of structural and miscel- the largest projects MCL Construction has
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undertaken. “Everything about it is unique,” Justice said. “It’s more than a campus — it’s a mini-city over there.” MCL Construction is working on one building on 350 acres of the 930-acre project being completed for the Cloisters on the Platte Foundation established by TD Ameritrade founder Joe Ricketts. That building is slated to be completed next summer. Fucinaro said lots of the material being used is being brought in from overseas. Part of the architectural design is meant to replicate St. Margaret Mary’s Church in Omaha. Wood and stone is used liberally in the chapel, the focal point. An atrium and greenhouse in the retreat center features materials imported from France. Underground parking is an important feature. Carlisle said a recent distinctive project was a new baseball complex at Creighton Prep. MCL Construction installed new Astroturf, batting cages, bullpens and a 10foot high outfield fence. The outfield has striping to give the appearance of real grass and base paths, pitcher’s mound, and a home plate that features brown Astroturf to simulate dirt. The field’s state-of-the-art drainage system allows the field to take on 16 inches of rain per hour. There is only one other school in the state with a fully turfed baseball complex. With so many unusual and distinctive projects, Carlisle said MCL Construction is not abandoning its willingness to take on smaller and more conventional projects such as a $200 contract to hang an office door. The fast growth at MCL Construction has mandated that additional efficiencies be implemented. One answer last fall was the installation of Innovation Station, a hub for documents that can be used at headquarters or electronically by subcontractors in the field. Carlisle, Fucinaro, Leapley and Justice estimate the Innovation Station saved them eight hours a day at the Nebraska Medicine Lauritzen Outpatient Center, an 186,000-square-foot surgical facility completed recently. Reprinted with permission from the publisher of MBJ Inc. from the September 8, 2017 issue of the
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