Construction Today Volume 19, Issue 6

VOLUME 19, ISSUE 6

construction-today.com

Solid success Cement manufacturer and supplier Buzzi Unicem USA is prioritizing sustainability across its operations, with investments in new technology and a transition to innovative, greener products

Estimating Specialized estimating software can help companies win the right jobs at the right price pg.20

Re-development Some of the primary obstacles to be aware of when developing challenging properties pg.22

Editor’s Letter Chairman Andrew Schofield Group COO Joe Woolsgrove Editor - Libbie Hammond libbie@schofieldpublishing.com lhammond@finelight-media.com Staff Writers - Daniel Baksi, Alex Caesari, Danielle Champ, Jessica Olley Editorial Administrator - Amy Gilks

ON THE COVER

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COLUMNS AND CONTRIBUTIONS

Business Development Director Philip Monument FROM OUR EDITORS AND WRITERS

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Xxxxxx xxxx xxxx xxxx xxxxx xxxx xxxx xxxx Editorial Researchers Victoriaxxxxx Burke, Mark Cowles, Jeff Goldenberg, xxxx xxxx xxxx xxxxx xxxx xxxx xxxx Dan Harrison, Melanie Joyce, James Page, Wendy Russell, Richard Saunders, Kieran Shukri,

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Advertising Sales Xxxxxx xxxx xxxxJessica xxxxx xxxx xxxx xxxx Johanna Bailey,xxxx Mike Berger, Eglington, xxxx xxxx xxxxx xxxx xxxx xxxx James xxxxx Fuller,xxxx Will Gwyther, Alex Hartley, Reid Lingle, Sam Surrell

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Hello and welcome to the June issue of Construction Today.

There’s so much to discuss in the sector that it’s not always easy to decide which to highlight in our features – but technology always appears high up on the list. This month we discuss three different areas, which all have technology at their heart – from monitoring safety at all levels, to supply chain resiliency and estimating. I hope that our authors, from Autodesk, B2W Software and Epicor, make some interesting points and raise your interest! By the way our final feature from Berger Singerman is also a great read – don’t miss that one out!

Our cover story this issue looks at the operations of Buzzi Unicem USA. In our interview,

Subscriptions i.kidd@schofieldpublishing.com

Massimo Toso, President and CEO of Buzzi Unicem

Administration Natalie Fletcher, Rory Gallacher, Ibby Mundhir

the Group as well as the US operations. They give

USA and further members of his team, discuss details about the priority that the business is placing

© 2022 Schofield Publishing Ltd Schofield Publishing Ltd - Corporate Head Office Cringleford Business Centre, 10 Intwood Road, Cringleford, Norwich, NR4 6AU, U.K.

T: (312) 854-0123 T: +44 (0)1603 274130

XX

VOLUME 19, ISSUE 6

construction-today.com

Solid success Cement manufacturer and supplier Buzzi Unicem USA is prioritizing sustainability across its operations, with investments in new technology and a transition to innovative, greener products

on sustainability, and reveal that investments are being made in new equipment in order to make the transition to greener cements. This is a business that Estimating Specialized estimating software can help companies win the right jobs at the right price pg.20

is not afraid to take bold steps, and the overall story is fascinating – it starts on page 30 and is worth a look!

Re-development Some of the primary obstacles to be aware of when developing challenging properties pg.22

Finelight Media LLC

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T: (561) 778-2396

Libbie Hammond

Please note: The opinions expressed by contributors and advertisers within this

EDITOR

publication do not necessarily coincide with those of the editor and publisher. Every reasonable effort is made to ensure that the information published is accurate, and correct at time of writing, but no legal responsibility for loss occasioned by the use of such information can be accepted by the publisher. All rights reserved. The contents of the magazine are strictly copyright, the property of Schofield Publishing, and may not be copied, stored in a retrieval system, or reproduced without the prior written permission of the publisher.

libbie@schofieldpublishing.com

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Features 6

MULTIFAMILY

The pandemic changed the kinds of amenities

CO

30

that multifamily tenants are looking for and developers are now tasked with finding ways to adapt their new and preexisting facilities to satisfy the market’s needs

8

DIGITAL CONSTRUCTION

Developments in IoT (Internet of Things) connectivity and devices has expanded access to data for OEMs, rental, contractors, and operators and this is changing relationships and offering up new opportunities

12

HEALTH & SAFETY

There are various ways in which technology can be implemented across the construction industry to

Buzzi Unicem USA

improve traditional health and safety concerns while also addressing new challenges

14

POWER

54

58

Demand for UPS systems is expanding to anywhere with critical power applications, but what are the most important factors to consider when choosing such a system. Start with considering cost, reliability and simplicity

16

NEWS

The latest news and announcements from the world of North American construction – contracts, projects, products and more!

18

TECHNOLOGY

In this article looking at the UK’s new Building Safety Bill, Matt Keen shares how technology will be critical

Timberlab

Karsten Interior Service

in delivering the requirements

20 ESTIMATING In a highly competitive environment, specialized

70

74

Helmkamp Construction

Quasius

software for estimating can be an important ally in winning the right jobs at the right price

22 RE-DEVELOPMENT As the inventory of raw land dwindles, many developers are considering stepping into the world of environmentally-impacted properties

26 DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION When considering an ERP solution, construction companies should ensure that their supplier is informed by building supply experts

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Profiles COVER STORY

r Services

46

BMarko Structures

62

Pieper-Houston Electric

80

H&M Development

50

Willis Smith Construction

66

QLM

84

RCC Associates 3 WWW.CONSTRUCTION-TODAY.COM

Profiles 88

US Framing

96

92

Hensel Phelps

100

Atlanta Flooring Design Centers Inc

Giroux Glass

106

112

Action Gypsum

Lindamood

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Adapting and evolving

How developers are adapting their multifamily amenities. By Dan Doyle

F

or Senior Vice President of

fitness centers, rooftop decks and package

of a space. Residents will see this more in

Development and Chief Operating

lockers are trickling down into the design

developments that don’t already have true

Officer, Dan Doyle, who has over

and construction of multifamily housing

commercial offerings or extra indoor and

25 years of real estate industry

communities.

outdoor space.

experience under his belt, trends in multifamily

Here are three examples of how developers

Not only does this partnership provide

development have significantly altered the

are adapting in this changing landscape and

additional revenue for the development, but

way he views traditional amenities and

creating multifunctional spaces that work for

it enhances the customer experience. The

resident expectations.

today’s and tomorrow’s residents.

third-party operator that is making their

The pandemic changed the kinds of

livelihood off that product or service is more invested in delivering a high-quality product

for and developers are now tasked with finding

1 - Introducing a Third-Party Operator or Promotional Partner

ways to adapt their new and pre-existing

Multifamily developers are seeking the

in the fitness world or the restaurant business.

facilities to satisfy the market’s needs. The

services of third-party operators or

Therefore, the community has the latest

ways in which people shop, travel and work

promotional partners to create a unique

and greatest operators in-house who can

are affecting how they reside, so features

amenity package that differentiates a property

anticipate industry trends and the needs of its

like co-working office spaces, boutique

from its competition and expands the footprint

residents and customers in real-time.

amenities that multifamily tenants are looking

6 WWW.CONSTRUCTION-TODAY.COM

than a developer would be because they aren’t

Multifamily For example: A developer could establish a partnership with a local roasting company, that provides equipment and coffee grounds for residents to make their own cup of joe, to increase their marketing visibility, or they could lease a portion of the clubhouse to a small coffee shop and sandwich cafe that is open to the public. Another example of this is introducing a co-working operation, such as WeWork, into the business centers and common areas, which can either be open to the public to use for a fee or available as an amenity for residents-only.

2 - Retail as an Amenity Multifamily property owners are seeking to add retail spaces to developments that are curated to best serve their tenants and neighborhoods.

Amenities paired with the retail offerings are not only convenient but also provide an advantage over apartments and condos built only for residential purposes only, because mixed-use projects create a sense of community for residents. This is a mutually beneficial venture since it not only creates revenue for the development, but retail owners typically find great success with mixed-use communities, due to the onsite resident population and heavy foot traffic.

As part of The Beach Co.’s Cardinal Crossing

Designing and executing luxury amenities

easy pet washing and drying, electric car

such as boutique fitness studios, on-site pet

charging stations and an abundance of

development in the Forest Acres suburb of

daycare, pet grooming services, rooftop decks,

parking — all set in a prime downtown location.

Columbia, S.C., more than 42,000 square feet

community events and much more, help to

Residents also have access to a one-acre

of ground-floor commercial space serves

knock the socks off a prospective tenant and

amenity deck with a premiere rooftop pool and

the residents of Cardinal Apartments and

play a big role in someone’s decision making

lounge, demonstration kitchen, lounge area

the Forest Acres neighborhood. Close to

process.

for sports and movie watching and more. On

downtown Columbia the retail space is an

For example, The Jasper, The Beach Co.’s

top of that, The Jasper’s office tenants have

ideal location for restaurateurs, creative

mixed-use building in Charleston, S.C., offers

access to the property’s rooftop amenity deck

office users and neighborhood-serving

luxury residential amenities such as cafes

and garden, a corporate wine cellar and a club

retailers. Current tenants include Poogan’s

and restaurants, state-of-the-art health and

room equipped with a private lounge and

Southern Kitchen, Cycle Bar, Bad Daddy’s

wellness studios, private wine lockers, a pet

demonstration kitchen.

Burger Bar, Club Pilates, Aria Nail Spa and

park with an agilities course, a pet spa for

Nothing Bundt Cakes.

3 - Prioritizing Luxury Amenities Since the beginning of the pandemic, residents are spending more time at home than ever before and seeking high-quality amenities that complement their adjusted lifestyles.

Luxury amenities, especially those focused on convenience, health and wellness and entertainment, help lure potential residents and are driving the demand for modernization in multifamily housing.

Dan Doyle is Senior Vice President of Development & COO at The Beach Company. Founded in 1945, The Beach Company has been a leader in residential and commercial real estate brokerage, development and property management for 75 years. Led by CEO John Darby, The Beach Company upholds a tradition of establishing landmark properties and communities by evaluating each development opportunity for its potential to improve the quality of life for its neighbors and contribute to the long-term economic vitality of the Southeast region. https://thebeachcompany.com/

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Time for technology Soeren Brogaard discusses how data has become a crucial asset across construction

T

he introduction of innovative

Association) together with the European

organizations. The US National Institute

technologies and data

Rental Association (ERA) have worked for

of Building Science (NIBS) and the UK’s

standardization are key trends

over a decade to drive the development of

Centre for Digital Built Britain (CDBB)

in the coherent development

standardization around machine data, and

are collaborating with developers and

of construction technology and the

these efforts are gaining ground across the

suppliers on a national BIM programme

digitalization of the industry. Developments

global industry.

to support international alignment on

in IoT (Internet of Things) connectivity and

technical standards.

OEMs, rental, contractors, and operators.

Standardization helps propel adoption

to drive efficiency through more regular

With annual sales of small tools amounting

ISO standards, such as BIM, ISO19650, are

machine monitoring. It is important to

to around 100m-110m units, this increased

an important step to accelerate adoption.

increase the data points tracked and the

connectivity offers a massive contribution

The ability for companies to work from the

frequency of data requests, to create the

to eliminating downtime and increasing

same specification to create systems that

capability to capture more data, such as

productivity.

interconnect demonstrates the forward-

machine idle time, fuel levels, and alarms.

thinking that is happening in construction

To gain reasonable accuracy these systems

devices has expanded access to data for

The ARA (North American Rental

8 WWW.CONSTRUCTION-TODAY.COM

We need to go further as an industry,

Digital construction

“Machine operators might require equipment fault finding on their mobile phone, while the site office may investigate multiple machine productivity, and a central office may need the overall fuel efficiency data from various projects”

should be exchanging data every one to

Increasingly contractors and rental

digital PAL provides an online verification

two minutes while the equipment is active.

companies need application interoperability

tool to confirm the machine operator’s

To enhance productivity, the industry must

and a ‘single pane of glass’ user interface to

up to date training to use equipment

invest in technology that highlights possible

be able to deliver an overview of all machines.

types. Trackunit partnered with IPAF in

errors before they happen.

As the number of data points being collected

this development, which has already

increases, more capabilities can be controlled

issued 100,000 digital PAL cards to

problem, with an estimated 35 per cent of

such as access control and immobilization,

operators globally.

construction time spent on non-productive

not only at the equipment but also from a site

activities, such as gathering project

office, or from off-site operations.

Wasting time continues to be a 1

information, correcting mistakes and looking

We must not confuse a single pane of glass interface with a single technology platform. What is developing is a federated system where organizations that own the

these situations can be improved through

IPAF gives a vision of how collaboration can deliver benefits

digitalization.

IPAF recently introduced a digital PAL Card

so various collaborators in the ecosystem

using an app to replace an older physical

can contribute and keep their privacy intact.

license, which was easily abused. The

This again emphasizes why data standards

for lost tools and equipment. All or most of

Most rental fleets are a mix of OEM equipment and that is reflected on site.

data work closely together on data exchange,

9 WWW.CONSTRUCTION-TODAY.COM

are essential for the positive development

customers’ entire fleet, together with a host

opportunities will allow rental companies to

of the market.

of accessories to enable high security, jobsite

provide more precise usage-based invoicing,

safety and productivity gains.

and better utilize the fleet, while building

Digital First Services

Standards are important to the gathering of

a stronger customer relationship. Machine

The IoT devices and software systems

data and its potential layered augmentation

servicing and maintenance scheduling will

are secondary to the services that the

by systems or devices across the application

be more accurate and spares pre-ordered to

construction customers need to create or

or approved IoT platforms to expand the

ensure equipment uptime is maximized. What

improve their business processes. Most

economic usefulness of the data. This

is key is a digital infrastructure that users can

of the digital requirements need various

process should not create a data dump or

rely on to offer a better experience to their

access points and permissions depending

even offer data access through an API, rather

customers dependent on where they are in

on who, where and when the data is being

the purpose is to translate the data into a

the ecosystem.

interrogated. Machine operators might require

meaningful service architecture. In this way

equipment fault finding on their mobile

it translates data into appropriate responses,

technology, developed over several years

phone, while the site office may investigate

such as service alarms, engine idling, fuel

and optimised for use. The device firmware

multiple machine productivity, and a central

consumption data, or allows operator access

currently requires in-field upgrades, which

office may need the overall fuel efficiency

to specific machines, to gain business and

is a time-consuming process. However, the

data from various projects.

safety benefits from the data.

trend to over-the-air upgrades is building.

These capabilities are available from today’s

The increased use of data at a granular

The connected devices are a fixed

The ability to augment the device capability

applications (e.g., Trackunit Iris) and offer

level is changing the relationship between

without needed in-field engagement

off-the-shelf services that work instantly.

OEM, rental company, and contractor.

will reduce costs and increase customer

This includes the ability to connect with the

New business processes, such as billing

update activation. Once a reliable solution

10 WWW.CONSTRUCTION-TODAY.COM

Digital construction

is developed, this will improve the ‘time to

competitors, and 19x more likely to

quality’ needed. We see it now with Tesla

achieve above average profitability. Now

cars, where systems updates are downloaded

there are two outcomes that should provide

when the vehicle is in an inactive state,

motivation for digital transformation.

ready to be activated the next time the vehicle is used. We believe that construction

1 https://policyadvice.net/insurance/insights/

systems could see an average improvement

construction-industry-statistics/

of between 10-20 percent over the course of the device lifetime, through the development of over-the-air upgrades.

The growth of construction tech and the benefits that early adopters are gaining will incentivize the industry to invest in technology solutions. We are at the early engagement stage, and this can be judged by the $11.1 billion invested in Construct-Tech start-ups compared to other industries, such as the $772.5 billion invested in FinTech startups (between 2015-2021 - Bain & Company).

The benefits for data driven organizations are

Soeren Brogaard is CEO at Trackunit, the leading SaaSbased IoT solution and machine insights provider to the global construction equipment industry. Trackunit collects and analyzes machine data in real-time to deliver actionable, proactive and predictive information, empowering customers with data-driven foresight. From operator safety and machine health to business optimization, Trackunit’s industry-leading telematics software, hardware and fleet management services benefit the everyday operations of the customers worldwide. https://www.trackunit.com/

obvious, being 23x more likely to outperform

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Innovative approaches Rethinking health and safety: How emerging technologies and new approaches are making construction safer

T

he construction industry is

industry as technology proves to be a critical

work from home, safety protocols had to be

one of the most dangerous

element for both. When it comes to innovative

redesigned to ensure the safety of workers

industries to work in. Data

approaches to safety management, such

against Covid-19 infection. Now is the time

from OSHA – Occupational

as Prevention through Design (PtD), the

for the construction industry to rethink health

Safety and Health Administration – shows

construction industry is also behind the

and safety to address traditional and new

that in 2019, one in five worker deaths that

curve. PtD is still an emerging safety

safety challenges. The implementation of

took place in the private industry, occurred

management practice in the United States,

emerging technologies will be instrumental in

in construction. In such dynamic workplaces

but has already garnered high levels of

addressing the aforementioned challenges.

with high exposure to risk and the growing

success in other nations; as seen in the UK,

From BIM 3D visualization and AV/VR

complexity of operations, ensuring the health

where PtD has been mandatory by law since

immersive environment tools to IoT sensors

and safety of all those on-site is a challenging

1994. PtD is a process where safety risks are

and wearables, emerging technology is

task. Here, Kenny Ingram explains how the

removed during the project design stage,

helping overhaul outdated health and

adoption of emerging technologies and

completely eliminating worker exposure to

safety practices.

innovative safety management practices can

risk. Where the approach is growing in the US,

help organizations attain elevated levels of

emerging technologies can help propel this

BIM to create a safety masterplan

health and safety.

practice further.

Building Information Modeling (BIM) is one

The construction industry has traditionally

The recent onset of the Covid-19 pandemic

of the leading technologies used to improve

been slow to adopt new technologies. Studies

has further brought into focus health and

on-site health and safety standards. While

suggest that this could be a leading factor

safety. With construction workers deemed as

by no means a new technology anymore, its

in lower levels of health and safety in the

essential workers and having few options to

implications for health and safety are gaining

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Health & safety through the use of immersive environments in training. Rather than learning from lectures

unforeseen hazard, reducing the risk factor.

Personalized safety is also gaining

and presentations, immersive environments

notoriety as concerns for general well-being

allow for practical training completely

are on the rise. Wearable technology, such as

removed from the safety risks of an active

smart hats and clips, can monitor the physical

work zone. This is particularly important

condition of workers to indicate when

for new, inexperienced workers to gain

workers need to take breaks or when it is no

essential experience in a safe and controlled

longer safe for equipment to be operated

environment.

so that appropriate interventions can be

Remote access technology can also be used

taken to ensure worker safety. Exoskeleton

to conduct high-risk inspections. Unmanned

suits are an example of the extent to which

Aerial Vehicles (UAV), commonly known as

wearable technology can be employed. This

drones, eliminate worker exposure to risk by

technology can even reduce the risk of work-

enabling remote inspection of hard to access

related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs)

and high-risk structures, such as, in steel

by reinforcing workers’ movements to prevent

installation and electrical line maintenance.

strain and muscle injury from heavy lifting and

Drones, in particular, are proving popular for

repetitive tasks.

this, with usage tripling in 2020 alone. for remote technologies due to the need

Technology to close the gap in health and safety practices

for social distancing. Here, immersive

There are various ways in which technology

environment technologies and drones

can be implemented across the construction

not only help with traditional health and

industry to improve traditional health and

safety concerns but can also address new

safety concerns while also addressing new

safety challenges.

challenges. Technology not only improves

Covid-19 has further driven demand

the safety of working environments, but

Personalized safety for worksite hazards that cannot be controlled

can also promote overall well-being for

In circumstances where worksite hazards

broader implications for emerging health and

cannot be foreseen and removed in the design

safety technologies in bridging the skills and

process, such as in outdoor environments,

age gap within the construction workforce.

personalized safety is required to reduce the

Older workers can be better supported

impact of risk. IoT sensors that feed real-time

through the assistance of technology and

significant recognition as it becomes a key

data into cloud-systems can be instrumental

younger workers can develop greater skills

tool in safety management. Through BIM

in monitoring and alerting workers of present

even with a lack of industry experience. The

3D modelling capabilities, organizations can

safety hazards in difficult work environments.

safety of workers is paramount, and adoption

gain hyper-realistic oversight of the entire

IoT sensors can be worn in the form of clips

of innovative technologies and safety

construction project work zone, allowing

or necklaces to alert construction workers of

management practices will bring construction

potential safety hazards to be identified and

nearby hazards, examples of this can be seen

health and safety into the 21st century.

designed out before work starts. BIM enables

in recovery of electrical lines after storms.

construction organizations to implement

Sensors can detect the electromagnetic field

For a list of the sources used in this article,

world-class safety management strategies,

of fallen live wires and notify workers of this

please contact the editor.

construction workers. There are still even

such as PtD and eliminate worker exposure to risk entirely. Real-time data from other safety technologies can also be integrated and collated within BIM to facilitate visibility and communication across the entire project taskforce, creating a safety masterplan.

Remote access technology for elimination of risk exposure Augmented and virtual reality (AV/VR) technologies provide greater levels of safety

Kenny Ingram is VP of Construction & Engineering at IFS. IFS develops and delivers cloud enterprise software for companies around the world who manufacture and distribute goods, build and maintain assets, and manage service-focused operations.

IFS’ industry specific products are innately connected to a single data model and use embedded digital innovation so that customers can be their best. www.ifs.com

13 WWW.CONSTRUCTION-TODAY.COM

Power up Luke Eiland compares Monolithic and Modular UPS systems

I

ncreasing demand for reliable power,

is a solution made of single sub-systems

a similar power requirement, the traditional

coupled with the growing use of

including one static switch, one rectifier, one

monolithic solution has the lower initial price

essential electrical equipment and

inverter etc. – but importantly, they have no

tag. This is why, traditionally, it has been

digitization, is driving up adoption of

intrinsic redundancy. The later developed

the solution of choice for organizations with

UPS systems. While data centers, hospitals,

modular UPS is, as the name suggests, made

smaller power requirements – especially

and manufacturers were among the first

up of several smaller components that can

if their needs are unlikely to change in the

to adopt the technology, demand for UPS

be added or removed to scale the solution up

near future. However, for those businesses

systems is expanding to other users such as

or down. Looking at both UPS solutions, we

with larger power requirements or where

research facilities, schools, or anywhere with

will analyze the benefits of each in relation to

increased flexibility is needed, there is more

critical power applications. Considering the

three main decision criteria – cost, reliability

to consider.

high stakes associated with energy failure,

and simplicity.

what are the most important factors to

While there are different model sizes of monolithic systems, there is less flexibility in

Cost – Is it all about price?

terms of power capacity than with modular

UPS System design boils down to two

When making any investment, cost is always

UPS. Subsequently, monolithic UPS users

main types – monolithic or modular. The

the primary consideration. When it comes to

often end-up paying more for a system that’s

original UPS design, the monolithic system,

UPS systems, and if comparing systems of

larger than they need to reach their power

consider when choosing such a system?

14 WWW.CONSTRUCTION-TODAY.COM

Power requirements. Additionally, should their

Simplicity is key

power requirements change, due to a lack

Thankfully, failure

of design flexibility, a whole new monolithic

of a UPS system is

system is often required.

uncommon, but replacing

This is one of the strengths of modular

individual components

UPS. To increase the capacity of your modular

as part of regular

system, it’s as simple as buying additional

system maintenance

power modules and slotting them into your

is both expected and

existing rack. What’s more, should you have

planned. Ensuring that

multiple modular UPS solutions at your

your system remains

facility, you can also swap modules from

operational, or that you

system to system to address changing load

have back-up power

profiles - increasing efficiency savings and

during those service

mitigating risk.

intervals, can be a big issue with considerable

Reliability – When you can’t afford to fail!

Designed to ensure that your power supply

consequences for your operation.

For this, modular UPS systems are

In Summary Both UPS systems are reliable, but they

is reliable and uninterrupted, a UPS system

relatively easy to maintain. In a true modular

employ totally different designs to provide

must be extremely robust and reliable –

solution, each essential part is hot swappable

different levels of flexibility and autonomy.

obviously, this is critical when powering

and can be removed for maintenance or

For organizations with lower critical power

lifesaving medical equipment or other

replaced while the system continues to run.

application requirements, a monolithic

essential electrical devices.

Conversely, a monolithic system will likely

solution will be both cheap to install and

Traditional monolithic systems feature a

need to be shut down for maintenance of

generally fit for purpose. But as we’ve

simple design. Consisting of fewer individual

core components, which means that you

explored, you could also be installing a

components, this means that there are less

either lose your back-up facility during this

system that’s larger and more expensive

failure points in the system. Alternatively,

period, or you have to switch to another

than you need, as well as being more costly

modular UPS solutions spread the load over

system – essentially meaning that you need

to maintain in the long run. Plus, should

many more components. Which it could

two units to provide the same service, with all

your power requirements change, and

be argued, provides many more potential

the associated costs of purchasing, installing

you need to add more capacity, monolithic

failure points. However, in a monolithic

and maintaining two UPS devices. Now, some

solutions don’t have the system flexibility to

system, failure of one component could

users also install two modular UPS systems

support you.

mean failure of the system as a whole. But

for ultimate peace of mind, but this trend is

in true modular units, if one module fails, it’s

beginning to change as depending on the

reliability and no downtime, a modular UPS

separated from the rest of the system and

load’s criticality, it’s often not necessary.

system is very appealing - but on the face of

the other modules pick-up the slack to ensure

Crucially, and unlike the modular approach,

For organizations that require ultimate

it, they do look more expensive. But, when

continued operation/power. This is a key

if certain individual parts fail in a monolithic

the total cost of ownership is calculated

distinction between modular systems. Not

environment, the process of replacing them is

considering ease of maintenance, a smaller

all modular solutions are the same, and only

often complex and time consuming, requiring

floorspace footprint and overall system

‘true modular’ UPS, like our own SolarEdge

a specialist UPS engineer representing

flexibility, the modular argument becomes

solutions, provide this functionality.

additional downtime and cost.

very compelling.

Like many things in life, being handmade is generally better, however UPS systems are not one of them. While large monolithic solutions are manufactured manually with the resulting risk of human error, smaller power modules for modular UPS systems are manufactured and tested utilizing automated solutions. This approach adds to reliability, with each of these smaller modules also being machine tested before shipping – something that’s not undertaken within the monolithic manufacturing process.

Luke Eiland is Service Manager is SolarEdge’s Critical Power Division. SolarEdge is a global leader in smart energy and the world’s #1 solar inverter company in revenue with millions of systems installed in 133 countries. SolarEdge addresses a broad range of smart energy market segments through its PV, storage, UPS, EV charging, battery, electric vehicle powertrains, and grid service solutions.

SolarEdge’s Critical Power Division delivers innovative products and solutions that powers critical computers, storage, and machines in a broad range of sectors. https://criticalpower.solaredge.com

15 WWW.CONSTRUCTION-TODAY.COM

News In Brief Road to safety The U.S. Department of Transportations’ Build America Bureau has provided a low-interest, long-term loan of $41.55 million to the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) to finance 49 percent of the $85.97 million in eligible costs for the Rural Two-Lane Advancement And Management Plan (RAAMP). The Bureau helps communities across the country reduce the costs of infrastructure projects by providing Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act loans, known as TIFIA loans, and other types of financing. Under the Rural Projects Initiative (RPI), the loan is for nearly half the project costs instead of the customary 33 percent.

The project will provide significant safety improvements, one of the primary objectives of RAAMP. The project is a compilation of eight rural projects that will add nearly 27 miles of 8-foot shoulders and asphalt resurfacing as well as 6.4 miles of roadway reconstruction.

Award winners Mammoet’s USA team has won a Job of the Year award at the Specialized Carriers and Rigging Association’s (SC&RA) Annual Conference in Washington D.C. The award was for Hauling Job of the Year in the Moving project category, which highlights transports done using specialized equipment such as selfpropelled transporters, dollies, and crawler assemblies.

Mammoet presented the successful completion of the transport of the furnace modules for the Gulf Coast Growth Ventures plastics manufacturing facility in San Patricio County, Texas. The largest furnace module measured approximately 91m long by 43m wide, towered over 21m tall (300 ft. long by 140 ft. wide and nearly 170 ft. tall). and weighed in over 8,000t. A single module required seven trains of SPMT trailers at 46 axle lines in length and each module was transported along a dedicated eight kilometer, or 4.7-mile, heavy haul route using SPMTs. Adam Bettis, Engineering Team Lead at Mammoet stated how proud the company was to accomplish this project, and that it was a great honor to have the opportunity to receive the Hauling Job of the Year in its category.

$123m tunnel rehab COWI, in joint venture

Preserving history Landmarks Illinois, the statewide historic preservation nonprofit, issued its first loan through its Reinvestment Program Loan Fund to the Greater Chatham Initiative (GCI) to help finance the preservation of a South Side building that is now home to the organization’s ‘Artist on the 9’ coworking space and gallery.

As Bonnie McDonald, President & CEO of Landmarks Illinois explained: “Our goal with this loan program is to provide accessible funding and lending terms to worthy preservation projects in Illinois that may be unable to attain conventional financing. We also hope it provides economic opportunities in Illinois communities and sparks future investments in our historic places.”

16 WWW.CONSTRUCTION-TODAY.COM

with CHA Consulting, Inc. (CHA) as the owner’s engineer, has provided quality oversight to support the Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority (TBTA) in the completion of five design-build contracts worth $123 million to rehabilitate the Hugh L. Carey and Queens Midtown Tunnels In New York. The upgrade project has advanced current systems, enhancing public safety and reliability of the city’s transport network.

Environmental events such as hurricane Sandy have had devastating effects on New York and its transport infrastructure, highlighting the need for advancement in design and technology. COWI and CHA were contracted to provide expert quality oversight and coordination of new ventilation and fire systems, including advanced smoke detection and communication systems in the tunnels. All upgrades were completed on budget during the pandemic and on-time, without closing the tunnels to traffic.

Steven Kramer, Senior Vice President and Project Director for the project at COWI said: “This project was very close to home for our engineers, most of us have used these tunnels and know how vital they are to the ecosystem of New York. Working on such a deep-rooted part of our transport network can be challenging but our proactivity and collaboration with construction partners provided a design-build model that offered significant cost and schedule reductions.”

News Positive combination

Investing to build and improve

Construction technology

With more than 37,000 veterans estimated to be experiencing

provider Causeway

homelessness, The Home Depot Foundation has granted an additional

Technologies has acquired

$8m to nonprofit partners as part of its overall commitment of half of a

Yotta, a global provider of

billion dollars to veteran causes. These latest grants will fund construction

connected asset management

and renovation of more than 800 housing units, short-term residential

software and services, from

programs, supportive services and other programs aimed at bringing an end

AIM-listed Oxford Metrics plc.

to veteran homelessness.

Yotta serves over 200 customers worldwide, providing

The Foundation’s $1m investment in the greater Los Angeles area will

software to assist in the management of more than 35

help USVETS and Century Villages at Cabrillo, Inc. construct more than

million physical assets and related services, including

200 new units of housing for low-income veterans and those experiencing

highways, street lighting and waste management. The

homelessness. In Orlando, The Home Depot Foundation’s grant will support

acquisition of Yotta marks another vital step on Causeway’s

Step Up on Second Street, Inc. with the construction of 101 units of

journey to digitize the processes that underpin the

permanent supportive housing, with 30 units reserved for veterans and

construction and maintenance of infrastructure assets.

their families.

Phil Brown, chief executive of Causeway, said: “With our new combined offering, data will flow seamlessly between local authorities and their contractors in one single end-toend solution, ensuring the needs of all stakeholders are met without compromise.

“The acquisition of Yotta brings us a team with fantastic knowledge of solutions for local authority asset management and services. This, combined with Causeway’s own expertise in contractor job and resource management, creates a team with an unparalleled depth of understanding.”

New HQ completes When GNC was in the process of evaluating potential sites for its new world headquarters, it focused on three key criteria: the location needed to align with GNC’s brand vision and business outlook, reflect its culture of innovation, and foster conversation and communication among associates and teammates. And 75 Hopper Place, part of the 3 Crossings development in Pittsburgh’s innovative Strip District, delivered.

“Our Real Estate and Development teams did an incredible job identifying, vetting, and selecting a space that allows our associates to be creative while also supporting our strategic business plan,” said Josh Burris, CEO, GNC. “With the new office we are leaning into a hybrid work environment while also creating opportunities for growth and innovation that ultimately support the needs of our people – our consumers, our associates, our partners and our community here in Pittsburgh.”

GNC’s space spans three floors and 75,000 square feet. Located in one of the tallest buildings in the Strip District, the space is anchored by a fully-functioning GNC campus store at which associates can shop, a creative and production studio, and test kitchen for product innovation. In addition, there is a GNC branded shared gym for all 3 Crossings tenants to foster health and wellness as well as convenient on-site parking for associates directly across from the office.

The office also offers indoor-outdoor working spaces including a private outdoor terrace aptly named ‘The ‘Burgh’ and accompanying balcony. The layout also includes both permanent and hoteling desks, coffee bars, huddle rooms for small meetings and conference spaces for larger engagements. 75 Hopper Place also offers privacy booths and wellness rooms to ensure associates can Live Well.

GNC collaborated with several companies to brings its new world headquarters to fruition acknowledging partners like AHK Ventures, Donahue Advisors, LGA Partners, Oxford Development Company, Rycon Construction Inc., and Workscape Inc. as critical to the company’s successful move.

17 WWW.CONSTRUCTION-TODAY.COM

Get prepared

Matt Keen shares insight into the UK’s Building Safety Bill and how the construction industry should prepare

T

he upcoming Building Safety

should be constructed, maintained and made

reconsider how they use technology to meet

Bill in the UK represents a

safe.”1 By resetting safety standards in the

the new requirements, which could bring

fundamental shift in the way we

wake of the 2017 Grenfell Fire tragedy, the UK

significant wider benefits.

operate. This legislation promises

government will now require greater checks

significant change for the whole sector – from

and balances to prevent similar disasters in

construction businesses and building owners

the future.

and operators through to insurers and public

These changes will go further than safety

What are the key changes as a result of the Building Safety Bill?

The Building Safety Bill outlines that building

alone; there’s the potential for a seismic shift

owners will need to prove that they have

in how construction is planned and executed.

effective, proportionate measures in place to

lasting generational change by “setting out

The construction ecosystem of today – from

manage safety risks for high-rise residential

a clear pathway on how residential buildings

sole traders to serial owners – will need to

buildings. A golden thread of information for

safety organizations.

The enactment of the bill aims to create

18 WWW.CONSTRUCTION-TODAY.COM

Technology the lifespan of a building, from planning and

subcontractors will be able to access and

can scan any existing building for an accurate,

construction through to occupation will be

use valuable information for the first time,

as-built model.

required. And importantly, everybody will have

opening up potential benefits and avoiding

a responsibility to collect, store and share

disputes with contractors and clients.

businesses to demonstrate their compliance

more data to create this golden thread.

Architects: As duty holders during design

with the Building Safety Bill, but also gives

For owners of existing buildings, that

Importantly, technology can not only enable

and modifications, architects will need a

firms the ability to capture data needed to

means creating an accurate, as-built record

greater focus on demonstrating compliance.

improve outcomes like quality, productivity

of facilities as they stand today. For new

Attention to detail and full transparency

and sustainability.

projects, it requires evidence about how work

will become more important than ever, but

is actually completed – making construction

at the same time facilitate closer working

can add and integrate high value

firms even more accountable for the quality

relationships with the client and other

capabilities like design coordination tools

of what they build. Building owners will also

stakeholders.

or digital twins, to their CDEs. This helps

be responsible for ensuring clear lines of

Taking it one step further, companies

stakeholders continually analyze and

responsibility for safety, with duty holders and

How technology can help

improve their performance. They can capture

an accountable person.

Technology will be critical for all construction

lessons learned and be ready for future

To ensure building safety is considered at

stakeholders. The industry has seen a

developments.

every stage of design and construction, a new

rapid shift in the uptake and adoption

Gateway system will be introduced, overseen

of technology over the last two years –

by a new Building Safety Regulator. They

especially in light of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Laying the foundations for a better industry

will also enforce compliance and stringent

There are tried and tested workflows and

The Building Safety Bill will require a

penalties for noncompliance could include

tools that can help firms of every size to

far greater level of information-sharing

criminal charges.

prepare – and firms that are just starting on

across the industry. This added layer of

their digital journeys can learn from those

transparency will bring many benefits but it’s

that have been there before.

understandable that organizations might be

With all this change ahead, it’s important that construction companies get prepared.

And the changes will require both cultural and behavioral change.

For construction businesses, there’s still a wide range of choice when it comes to

wary about potential delays and costs.

It is important that every construction

technology. The legislation doesn’t specify

stakeholder understands the changes ahead

How will this impact my business?

a particular software or tool. Implementing

and gets prepared early. While initially the

Building Information Modelling (BIM) based

legislation will apply to buildings over 18

Owners: Arguably building owners face the

workflows will be a highly valuable first step

meters, it may well be extended in the future

biggest challenge from the Building Safety

as information is updated in real-time and

– and these changes could impact everyone in

Bill. It will be critical to have systems in place

available to every stakeholder on the project

the industry.

to receive, and then manage and maintain,

as required.

The bill offers many positives, and we

project data throughout the operational life

To get started, firms should look at

must embrace the opportunity it will bring.

of an asset. Owners will need to consider the

establishing common data environments

We have a chance to evaluate how we work

best way to structure information to ensure

(CDEs) on their projects. This provides a

and establish best practice in construction,

that it’s as easy to manage and access as

secure, accessible place to store all critical

creating an industry we can all be proud of.

possible when needed.

information. Construction management

Main contractors: Many main contractors

software can prove compliance during the

1 https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/

have been looking to improve the quality

build phase, and reality capture technology

building-safety-bill

and depth of information they provide to owners for some time. But the new regulations will require an even greater level of transparency and information sharing.

These changes will help contractors to build right first time – ultimately reducing delays, costly rework and waste, as well as improving on-site safety.

Subcontractors: All subcontractors will need to provide solid evidence that their workforce is properly skilled to deliver on a project, and that all work is completed and compliant, using digital technology. Many

Matt Keen is Senior Industry Strategist for Autodesk Construction Cloud in EMEA. Autodesk is changing how the world is designed and made. Its technology spans architecture, engineering, construction, product design, manufacturing, media and entertainment, empowering innovators everywhere to solve challenges big and small. From greener buildings to smarter products to more mesmerizing blockbusters, Autodesk software helps its customers to design and make a better world for all. https://construction.autodesk.com

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A valuable solution Greg Norris discusses the ins and outs of specialized software for construction estimating

T

here’s an adage in construction

chasing and calculating figures can instead

regular job requirements. A paving

that every dollar earned begins

be used to evaluate alternative scenarios

company, for example, might create a

with the estimate. In a highly

and options.

template for a standard paving crew that

competitive environment,

includes the daily cost for a paver, rollers,

specialized software for estimating can be an

How estimating software works

related equipment and the employees that

important ally in winning the right jobs at the

There are a wide range of software

operate those assets.

right price.

applications available for various estimating

These applications deliver advantages

With this cost data already in place and

requirements and construction sectors.

organized, estimators are not starting from

over spreadsheets or manual processes.

Most work in a similar manner. Contractors

scratch every time they put together a new

Estimators can work much faster to

typically pre-populate databases in the

bid. They can pull information from the

complete more bids. At the same time, they

software with their baseline costs for labor,

databases to match the bid specifications

can be more accurate, so the race to work

materials and equipment required for the

relatively quickly and with confidence in

faster doesn’t increase errors and risk.

work they perform. Estimating applications

their accuracy. They don’t have to search in

Finally, estimating software can free up time

also allow them to group these cost items

various places for the latest pricing.

and provide features to assist with strategy.

together into frequently used templates

The time estimators might have spent

or cost structures to reflect repetitive or

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Formula errors and miscalculations, two of the riskiest liabilities with spreadsheets and

Estimating

manual processes, are also eliminated. With the specialized software, the math is done automatically and reliably as the bid is built.

Automated auditing and error checking can provide further safeguards against mistakes.

Additional software features In addition to these basic principles, estimating software can provide additional capabilities that save time and improve accuracy.

One is the option to organize change orders within the base bid and have them appear as independent nodes in the menu structure. Scope changes after the original bid is complete are an everyday challenge

Implementation and training

cost information companies already use

in most construction sectors, and these

Switching to specialized software from

or want to use in their estimates and

capabilities allow estimators to create,

manual processes or spreadsheets may seem

organizing in a format compatible with

manage and track them quickly and easily.

like a big and intimidating step, but with the

the software application. The exercise

right implementation program and training, it

is obviously unique for every company.

doesn’t have to be.

Templates and best-practice experience

Some estimating applications can send RFQs automatically to subcontractors and vendors and then assist in a methodical

Contractors contemplating the move

from the software supplier can facilitate

analysis of the submitted quotes. General

should look for a software provider that has a

contractors can then see and select the

documented and structured implementation

Training also depends on the capabilities

lowest bidder or split the work among

process, but they should make sure that the

of the estimators at each company and their

multiple bidders to get the lowest possible

process is not so rigid that it can’t be adapted

prior experience with software. In-person

package price. The software also makes it

to meet any specific needs of the company

or online options are usually available. Some

easier to make cost comparisons when they

and its estimating team.

contractors opt for a basic training program

are evaluating the option to self-perform

A standard implementation begins with

the process.

to get started and then add more in-depth

various aspects of a project or sub them out

introductory meetings online or over the

training once they have had time to use the

to other contractors.

phone to establish the process, timeline

software and get a better sense of what

Reporting and analysis is another area

and who will do what from the contractor

they may need more help with.

where specialized software can provide a

and supplier sides. Hosting requirements,

big advantage over spreadsheets. Being

through on-premise servers or the Cloud,

begin software training after the cost

able to run reports across selected ranges of

should also be covered, along with any

databases are in place. This personalizes

previous estimates with a few clicks instead

integration requirements related to

the experience, enabling estimators to work

of a lot of time-consuming manual effort is

accounting systems or other software.

with their company’s own specific data and

extremely important to bidding strategies.

Building cost databases is the next

This allows contractors to review historical

step. This essentially involves aggregating

Most suppliers recommend that contactors

templates rather than a generic training database.

costs for materials or tasks, margins and variances with actual costs, win-loss ratios, subcontractor performance and a wide range of other data.

Estimating software can also come pre-loaded with cost item databases specific to US states. This speeds up bidding for DOT projects. Estimators simply populate these state databases with their own costs, download electronic bidding system (EBS) files, conform the estimate automatically to the required DOT format, and upload for submission.

Greg Norris is Director of Marketing Communications at B2W Software. Headquartered in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, B2W Software empowers heavy construction companies to ‘break new ground’ by winning more work and completing it more profitably. The company’s ONE Platform connects people, workflows and data and includes advanced, unified applications to manage estimating, scheduling and dispatching, field tracking, equipment maintenance, and safety. www.b2wsoftware.com

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Developer beware

What to watch out for when converting environmentally-impacted properties into new development. By Dawn Meyers

W

ith the inventory of

properties, or former industrial uses, the

myriad of land use, environmental, liability

raw land dwindling in

redevelopment of these types of properties

and public relations issues that certainly lie

many communities,

raise a new set of developmental hurdles to

ahead. This article will highlight some of the

many developers are

consider. These properties often carry with

primary obstacles for landowners, developers

considering stepping into the world of

them a unique and complex history, making

and contractors considering converting

environmentally-impacted properties.

their conversion and development a trap

environmentally-impacted properties into

Whether former golf-courses, agricultural

for those unaware of or unprepared for the

new development.

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Re-development

Land use issues

of impacts, and compatibility analysis. A

feel a sense of possessiveness towards the

In most communities, environmentally-

conversion of an environmentally-impacted

golf course as if its continued existence is a

impacted properties such as golf courses,

site, however, carries with it an extra layer of

matter of right. Some local governments have

agricultural land, or industrial sites require

angst. Take golf courses, for example. Many

even carried that concept into law, creating

rezoning prior to redevelopment. This carries

developments were created with a golf course

substantial burdens and restrictions upon

with it the typical land-use-change obstacles

centerpiece. Many lots were sold with boasts

those seeking to convert a golf course.

of neighborhood opposition, reassessment

of golf-course views. Many neighbors will

So, what is a developer to do? Many of

23 WWW.CONSTRUCTION-TODAY.COM

these historical uses such as golf courses

of contamination, and the health hazards

of the contamination, but also for potential

have succumbed to the economic challenges

associated with that contamination, these

liability to residential home buyers, users

of the last few years. Many of those

properties should be approached with due

of the amenities, and potentially to adjacent

properties have been abandoned, left to sit

environmental caution.

landowners whose property may be

fallow. Neighbors accustomed to pristine

Caution should first be exercised in the

affected by any contamination originating

views of well-manicured fairways or open

due diligence phase. Keep in mind that most

space now stare at weeds, pests and rodents.

environmental laws impose liability for

As between a pristine golf course and a new

contamination on anyone in the chain of title.

soil management techniques including soil

residential development, who would not

Therefore, it is important to know what the

blending and capping, risk-based tools to

want the course? But as between an eyesore

environmental condition of the property is

address soil and groundwater contamination,

and a new residential development, in many

before you buy it. Second, many jurisdictions

and a myriad of institutional controls which

cases the balance shifts. While still not an

impose a duty to report contamination on

may include deed restrictions to reduce or

easy road, today’s economic climate may

the owner or operator of a property. As a

prevent human exposure to the contaminants

at least result in a developers’ plan being

prospective purchaser, it is unlikely that you

can all be used not only to address but

objectively considered.

would be considered either. As such, you have

even resolve the contamination. In many

a limited look-see opportunity before you find

instances, the use of these tools can result

Environmental issues

yourself not only in the chain of title but with

in the property receiving the environmental

Perhaps the single most intimidating issue

a corresponding duty to report.

equivalent of a clean bill of health. It is

from the site.

But there is some good news. Advanced

If contamination is found, potential

imperative, however, to find environmental,

of an environmentally-impacted property

liability must be analyzed not just for the

engineering and construction professionals

is the environmental issue. With histories

assessment and any required remediation

knowledgeable about and experienced in golf

for those contemplating the conversion

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Re-development

Public relations A brief word of caution: don’t be caught flat-footed on the public relations front.

Contamination. Hazardous substances.

Cancer. These are very bad words to be associated with new development. You must, therefore, manage the process. This starts by knowing the condition of the property before you begin. Making sure you follow the process is key, so hire strong and experienced compliance professionals, make sure the regulators and public officials are kept in the loop and their requirements satisfied at every stage. Keep the neighbors informed.

Remember, the continued use of the property as is may well mean the continued legal use or generation of contaminants. To convert the property into a new use may well stop that practice.

Conclusion Overcoming common obstacles takes preparation along with the right tools and the guidance of experienced professionals.

A successful conversion is dependent upon identifying the traps so they can course projects to maximize your chances of

The good news is that these projects

be avoided. As more developers consider

success and minimize the costs associated

are typically on prized pieces of land and in

environmentally-impacted properties as

with achieving that success.

high-demand areas. Even with the increased

targets for new development, the issues that

costs associated with these concerns, many

can be the downfall for the unwary can give

Construction costs

developers find the success of these projects

the knowledgeable developer a significant

The preceding discussion has highlighted

to be worth the cost.

advantage.

some of the additional concerns related to the conversion of environmentally-impacted properties to new uses, and those additional concerns come at a cost. In pricing these projects, it is important to consider and budget for non-traditional items such as additional public zoning hearings, disposal costs for any contaminated soils required to be removed, additional clean fill if needed to cover or cap remaining contaminated soils, specialized dewatering in the event of contaminated groundwater, and the professional fees associated with managing the increased land use and environmental compliance issues.

Dawn Meyers is Berger Singerman’s Government and Regulatory Team Manager. Berger Singerman LLP, Florida’s business law firm, has more than 90 attorneys working out of offices in Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Tallahassee, and West Palm Beach. Members of the firm have expertise in commercial law, including business reorganization, corporate securities and M&A, dispute resolution, construction, intellectual property, employment law, real estate, environmental and land use, government and regulatory, healthcare, insurance, tax, and wealth preservation. www.bergersingerman.com

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The right answer

Effective strategies for supply chain resiliency.

By Graham Rigby

W

ith supply chain

strategies and operations to navigate

be done and fewer resources, visibility into

disruptions, high

supply chain disruptions and serve customers

your inventory is key to managing customer

material prices, and labor

more effectively.

expectations and meeting customer demand amidst supply chain challenges.

shortages continuing to

building suppliers must be ready to operate

Introducing warehouse and inventory management

business. An effective enterprise resource

their business more efficiently if they want

The industry can expect some level of

planning (ERP) system can help economize on

to meet consumer expectations and see

recovery from both supply availability and

time and dollars so that business owners can

financial success. To do so, forward-thinking

pricing by early next year, but a full recovery

properly track sales and business operations.

operators have been implementing business

may not occur until 2024. With more work to

With the ERP systems, building suppliers

be a challenge in the construction industry,

26 WWW.CONSTRUCTION-TODAY.COM

First to consider is running a leaner

Digital transformation can maintain real-time visibility into their warehouse and yard information – arming your employees with the tools to work more efficiently, spending less time searching for inventory in the warehouse and yard and more time with customers.

Digital commerce increases geographic reach and customer loyalty In considering inventory visibility, building suppliers must not only think about the ability for their employees to track changes

Not only did the demand for new homes

its current levels of profitability, seek out

and update, but also must effectively

increase, DIY and construction projects

methods to nurture valuable customer

communicate inventory updates to their

on older homes also saw an increase as

relationships, and engage new customers

customers.

families left the metro areas and navigated

as well – without applying the same

to suburban areas. Building suppliers, in turn,

engagement strategy, or pricing, to everyone.

This is where digital commerce comes in. In recent years, consumers have become much

were thriving and were able to incentivize

savvier when navigating the world of digital

employees with higher wages in an effort

ERP vendor selection

commerce and small to mid-sized building

to retain their current talent and attract

A one-size-fits-all ERP solution is not effective

suppliers must create and maintain a digital

new talent. As this ‘golden age’ comes to a

for today’s dynamic world. Consider a solution

presence to remain competitive. By reaching

close, businesses should consider how to be

that is informed by building suppliers and

your customers before they are shopping,

strategic in order to set themselves up for

built by building supply experts with more

informing them of your inventory in real time,

long-term success.

functionality and capability out of the box

you are improving the customer experience

Business leaders know that a reduction

and less need for customization and add-

and creating long-term purchase habits.

in sales – when prices normalize or demand

ons. Advanced capabilities like streamlined

Furthermore, as building suppliers build-

reduces – will not be met with enthusiasm.

workflows and more real-time reporting

out their digital commerce capabilities and

So, they will need to get more strategic about

and forecasting will also improve decision

shipping operations, they extend their reach

maximizing revenues and margins. Consider

making and provide early visibility to potential

and ability to service other markets.

customer stratification – which allows

challenges and opportunities. A seamless

businesses to understand who their most

experience online, at the checkout counter,

loyalty must be a priority. Using an ERP system

profitable customers are and strategically run

and in the warehouse will also enable building

helps businesses keep their inventory up-

operations to meet their needs and generate

suppliers to build customer trust and loyalty.

to-date, anticipate outages, and recommend

revenue. It may not be the customers who

comparable products when supply chain

buy the most or generate the most top

possible with the right solution on hand. With

issues restrict the ability to provide the

line revenue; priority clients are the most

them, businesses can conquer supply chain

desired product. This not only helps suppliers

consistent in the amount of business they

challenges to accelerate growth, maximize

serve customers but creates a loyalty within

are giving to the building supplier. Customer

profitability, and position themselves to

the customer base. Identifying and hanging

stratification will help a business maintain

address the future of building supply.

As industry challenges continue, customer

Accuracy, control, and productivity are

on to key customers will be essential to moving forward when recovery takes place.

An industry slowdown is expected, and prices may not recover quickly, but builders will still build. As such, customer loyalty may be the difference between long-term success and failure.

Business strategies to level-set for the future At the beginning of Covid, the housing market hit a boom. The demand for new houses spiked to the highest rate since 2006, creating an influx of cash into the industry.

Graham Rigby is Regional Vice President at Epicor. Epicor equips hard-working businesses with enterprise solutions that keep the world turning. For 50 years, Epicor customers in the automotive, building supply, distribution, manufacturing, and retail industries have trusted Epicor to help them do business better. Innovative Epicor solution sets are carefully curated to fit customer needs and built to respond flexibly to their fastchanging reality. With deep industry knowledge and experience, Epicor accelerates its customers’ ambitions, whether to grow and transform, or simply become more productive and effective. www.epicor.com

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Buzzi Unicem USA

Solid success Placing sustainability at the heart of its operations, cement manufacturer and supplier Buzzi Unicem USA is continually innovating in order to help build a greener America

Buzzi Unicem USA www.buzziunicem.com/en/unitedstates-of-america www.buzziunicemusa.com Services: Cement manufacturing

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Buzzi Unicem USA

W

hen considering the history of construction there are a few materials that have proven to be of critical importance. One such material – cement – can be traced back to its earliest origins in a form used by the Greeks and Romans, and since those times, inventors have been improving its ingredients and manufacturing techniques to create the products upon which the construction industry relies today. Thanks to these innovators, today’s cements include special

additives and binders, are targeted to specific applications and can even be a variety of colors. They are also becoming increasingly environmentally friendly, and one Group leading this particular trend is Buzzi Unicem SpA. Speaking to Construction Today, Massimo Toso, President and CEO of Buzzi Unicem USA, describes the overall Group as, ‘an international, multiregional company, focused on cement, ready-mix concrete and aggregates.’ He continues with some impressive figures. “Worldwide it has 29

cement-plants, seven grinding facilities, 18 aggregate quarries, 45 cement distribution terminals and 395 concretebatch plants, with an overall capacity of approximately 40 million tons of cement.”

The Group formulates and markets readyto-use cements and special and premixed binders, in the areas of oil well cement and sulfoaluminate cement, as well as cement for building roadbeds, environmental remediation and for concrete and precast elements. It also manages the quarries from where it supplies natural aggregates.

“Globally, the Group employs almost 10,000 people,” says Massimo. “It is listed on the Italian stock exchange, Borsa Italiana, however, the Buzzi family has been the majority shareholder of the group since

K&G Industrial As a leading independent refractory services and maintenance provider, K&G is grateful to have worked with Buzzi for 15 years and will continue to always strive to earn its business through quality and timely work.

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Buzzi Unicem USA

1907. Founded by Pietro and Antonio Buzzi in that year, the company represents one of the longest and most successful family business stories in Italy.”

Massimo then went on to detail the US operations of the Group. One of the leading cement manufacturing companies in the US, and considered the fourth largest cement producer in the country by capacity, Buzzi Unicem USA is headquartered in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, has over 2200 valued employees, and operates eight cement plants. “It has a production capacity of approximately ten million metric tons, and 36 cement terminals across the country, which distribute cement products to over 30 states,” he adds. It supplies portland cement, portland-limestone cement, masonry cements, slag cement, portlandslag cement, oil well cements and calcium sulfoaluminate cement, to ready-mix concrete businesses, highway and airport paving firms, concrete block companies and concrete product firms.

“Buzzi Unicem USA’s cement plants are located in Cape Girardeau and Festus, MO, Chattanooga, TN, Greencastle, IN, Stockertown, PA, Pryor, OK, and Maryneal and San Antonio, TX,” he continues. “As

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one of the leading cement manufacturing companies in the USA, it serves the Midwest, Southwest, Northeast and Southeast sections of the country.”

Massimo also mentions the Alamo Cement Company, which has its HQ in San Antonio, TX, and is wholly controlled by Buzzi Unicem SpA. “The company operates with a remarkable vertical integration in the ready-mix concrete and natural aggregates sector through 78 batching plants and four aggregate quarries.”

Clearly a significant player in the US cement sector in its own right, Buzzi Unicem USA still benefits from the illustrious pedigree of its parent company, as it shares its experience, wisdom and support, alongside access to the latest in thinking, technology and research. Says Massimo: “Operating in a marketplace that is continuously evolving and innovating requires research and development. As a Group, we have two highly qualified and equipped research laboratories in Italy and Germany which, besides providing the necessary support to the dedicated cement and concrete production control laboratories, also conduct research on new products or industrial processes,

often in partnership with academic or industrial institutions.”

An example of this partnership is the ‘Built’ lab that operates on the Vercelli Campus of the University of Eastern Piedmont (UPO) in Italy. Built - an acronym for Buzzi Unicem Innovation Lab and Technology - undertakes research and development activities and chemical, physical and instrumental analyses at the same time as supporting the cultural and scientific growth of students and staff. The lab allows Buzzi Unicem to take advantage of the synergies between the basic research typically performed in academia, and the applied research approach of industry.

“Buzzi Unicem dedicates particular attention to applied research through continuous, extensive experimental activities, seeking potential innovations for both the production process and products,” confirms Massimo. “To this end, the Group companies also participate as industry partners in national and international research projects, helping to develop new materials and technology, and to create a network of knowledge with structures of excellence within the field of scientific research.”

FOR THE ONES WHO BUILD A SOLID FOUNDATION

Grainger celebrates Buzzi Unicem in their dedication to quality, sustainability and innovative research.

Because there’s no time for downtime, Buzzi Unicem counts on Grainger as their go-to partner for: KeepStock® Inventory Management • Supplies and Solutions for Every Industry® • Safety Services, Support and Resources • 24/7 Unparalleled Customer Service • Best-In-Class Supply Chain •

Congratulations on your continued success!

GRAINGER.COM/GO | 1.800.GRAINGER The Grainger shipping box design is a registered trademark of W.W. Grainger, Inc. Grainger KeepStock solutions are subject to customer eligibility and agreements. ©2022 W.W. Grainger, Inc. W-ELCO205

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Buzzi Unicem USA A prime example of a new product line resulting from Buzzi Unicem’s know-how and innovation is CGreen; a family of CO2 efficient cements that have been launched onto the Italian and German markets. The CGreen line was developed by selecting suitable active additions, partially replacing clinker, optimizing grinding and mixing conditions and using new generation additives, at the same time as keeping the required technical performance. CGreen will be the distinguishing trademark for low carbon footprint cements in all countries where the Group operates.

Referencing the different markets around the globe where its products are offered gives another insight into the Group’s worldwide reach - its operations can be found in 13 countries. But, across all locations and operations, there is a common thread that unites the businesses and which has become a hallmark of the Buzzi Unicem name - quality. “Delivering quality products serves as the foundation of our way of doing business,” agrees Daniel Rinke,

Vice President Sales & Technical Services.

“We have established quality targets that meet not only local regulatory standards, but also our customers’ requirements for all our products; be it cement, concrete or aggregate, at all our production sites.”

From all of us at

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He goes on to say: “At the production level, we specifically devote more time and attention to continuously assessing the consistency and achievement of these quality targets. We use state-of-the-art control techniques and instruments, and

avail ourselves of a technical services department that listens to and supports our customers.”

This focus on quality is part of an overall dedication to excellence that extends across the business, and touches on every aspect

of operations. As one expects from a Group that has to adhere to robust regulatory frameworks, occupational health and safety is an area where exemplary standards are paramount and a Group policy was published on this topic in 2017. “The Group operates

International Materials International Materials (IMI) is an international trading and logistics provider established in 1987, focused on serving the global needs of customers in cement, construction, and steel markets by delivering cementitious and fuels products efficiently and to customer specifications. IMI is one of the leading independent bulk raw material trading companies in the world, with offices in the United States, Spain, China, Singapore, United Arab Emirates, Brazil, Mexico, and Colombia. Along with its partners and affiliates, IMI delivers over 30 million metric tons of bulk natural gypsum, cement, clinker, bauxite, slag, copper slag, iron ore and iron fines, coal, petcoke and other products annually to customers around the world.

“Buzzi Unicem dedicates particular attention to applied research through continuous, extensive experimental activities, seeking potential innovations for both the production process and products”

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Buzzi Unicem USA

OCC Civil & Mechanical Safety is our number one priority to the customer and to our workers. Our pride and personal involvement in the work we perform is what results in superior quality and service to our customers. This attitude is also directly reflected in our employees’ level of responsibility, professionalism and competency.

In terms of performance, we strive to meet or exceed our customers’ needs on each project by staying on budget and delivering the project on time or before the scheduled end date.

We also believe in adding value, and having creative solutions for difficult problems that our customers face during project planning and execution.

‘Do it right the first time’ – ‘Be part of the solution not part of the problem’

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to achieve the maximum level of safety for its own staff and its suppliers’ staff. The maximum level of safety is that at which we do not expect there to be any injuries or occupational diseases,” Joseph Lopes, Senior VP, Human Resources elaborates. Backing up the policy with some stats, in 2021

the Group invested 9.9m euros in training and safety measures, dedicated 174,833 training hours to safety, and trained 7637 employees in this critical area.

We can also cite here an example of safe thinking from Buzzi Unicem USA’s Oklahoma City Terminal, which fabricated a

platform, complete with extended handrails and steps, to provide safe egress for the drivers exiting their trucks on site. This upgrade reduces fall hazards and ensures that drivers can get to ground level safely, and while it may sound simple, such was the significance of the solution, that in

November 2021 it was recognized by a Safety Innovation Award from The Portland Cement Association (PCA).

“We encourage and empower employees in their day-to-day responsibilities to act in the best interest of the company,” Daniel goes on, before discussing how

Ruggiero Trucking & Excavating Ruggiero Trucking & Excavating is proud to celebrate over 35 years of partnership with Buzzi Unicem USA and looks forward to many years of continued service.

Headquartered in Bethlehem, PA, the Ruggiero family of companies has been family owned and operated since 1984.

Our scope of services includes over-the-road material transport, bulk excavation, and processing of construction aggregates throughout the Greater Lehigh Valley and beyond.

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Buzzi Unicem USA the business works with customers and suppliers. “We recognize the importance of creating and maintaining relationships of trust, based on mutual respect, active partnership, transparency and long-term collaboration with our stakeholders, in particular those based in the areas in which the Group operates.

“Creating relationships of trust with stakeholders means knowing them, understanding their requirements and promoting their involvement during significant events in the life cycles of plants and the main headquarters, as well as strategic initiatives that are potentially of mutual interest.”

This focus on the part that stakeholders play in the overall performance of Buzzi Unicem is something that will later be returned to, and it will reveal just how important these relationships are to the Group’s strategy for success.

Having touched on quality, safety and relationships, Massimo and his team then direct the readers of CT to one of the most important subjects of all for Buzzi Unicem – sustainability. This is an area where the Group has committed significant time and resources, and continually promotes in all countries in which it operates.

“The company’s dedicated management has a long-term view of the business and a commitment towards sustainable development,” Massimo remarks, before handing over to Michelle Ferguson, Director, Environmental Affairs, for some further insights into how this translates into the US operations. “In 2009, Buzzi Unicem USA completed the modernization and conversion from two long dry kilns to a single preheater kiln at our Festus, MO cement plant,” she explains. “In addition to now being one of the most energy efficient plants in North America, we increased production capacity from 1.3m to 2.5m tons/year.

“Buzzi Unicem USA’s Maryneal, TX cement plant modernization project began in 2014 and was completed in 2016,” she continues.

“This resulted in reducing the plant’s environmental footprint with a preheater kiln, while increasing cement capacity from 0.55m tons to 1.2m short tons per year.”

Its dedication to green operations has also been recognized by Government and regulatory bodies as Daniel Nugent, Senior VP Technical Services and Govt.

Affairs notes: “The achievement of some very important awards and certifications confirms the validity of our current

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Krosaki KilnTec LLC (the exclusive U.S./CAN agent for Krosaki kiln bricks) are proud to be a prime supplier to Buzzi to increase the operational life in critical kiln zones for maximum performance, reliability and consistency.

Our kiln brick products are designed and engineered to perform in the most critical and difficult areas of the modern cement kilns. We echo the Buzzi statement, ‘Delivering quality products serves as the foundation of our way of doing business’. Our highest-quality products combined with the process knowledge and collaboration with our customers has resulted increased kiln operational uptime and the huge ‘value’ associated with this. www.kiln-brick.com

strategy. For example, the Buzzi Unicem USA manufacturing facility in Chattanooga, TN, once again earned ENERGY STAR® certification from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 2021, recognizing its superior energy performance among similar facilities in the industry.

In fact, ENERGY STAR certified plants perform in the top 25 percent of similar facilities nationwide.

“This is the 13th consecutive year that the Chattanooga plant has earned ENERGY STAR certification. The Buzzi Unicem USA manufacturing facilities in Festus, MO, and Alamo Cement Company in San Antonio, TX have also repeatedly earned ENERGY STAR certification from the EPA. In meeting these strict qualifications, these facilities are saving energy, saving money, and helping protect the environment by using less energy than peer facilities.”

For a little background - for more than 20 years, EPA’s ENERGY STAR program has been America’s resource for saving energy and protecting the environment.

Today, thousands of facility owners and managers use ENERGY STAR to improve the energy performance of their buildings and plants.

“Our company has long been recognized for environmental improvement achievements by the Wildlife Habitat Council (WHC) and the PCA,” adds Michelle.

“For over a decade, the USA Group has been developing and maintaining various environmental restoration and enhancement programs across the company.

Today, we operate WHC-certified programs at nearly all of our cement manufacturing locations, most of which are able to be shared with their local communities as joint

Refractory Solutions for the Cement Industry

INSPIRED

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Buzzi Unicem USA

programs and educational opportunities in environmental preservation.”

Furthermore, Buzzi Unicem USA actively participated with the PCA in developing its Roadmap to Carbon Neutrality, an ambitious journey designed to deliver carbon neutrality across the cement and concrete value chain by 2050. “The Roadmap focuses on the entire value chain starting at the cement plant and extending through the life cycle of the built environment. At the cement plants this includes replacing traditional fossil fuels with alternative/ waste-derived fuels. This produces two main advantages: reducing CO2 emissions due to generally lower emission factors and increased biomass content, as well as eliminating the need to landfill these materials. Another significant step toward decarbonization is the move toward universal acceptance of portland limestone cement, such as Type IL, which reduces the clinker content per ton of cement,” explains Massimo.

“For a very long time, and for so many involved in our industry, including architects, engineers, regulators, and ready-mix companies, our Type I/II cement has been the only available and accepted product,”

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adds Daniel Rinke, with some further details that highlight innovation in action from Buzzi Unicem. “We are now working to change that, and change it in what some might think is a very short transition time.

The new IL cement started at ten percent limestone and will, within a few years, be up to 15 percent limestone. It will become the new standard. It’s a milestone of the climate change policy for all of the cement players clearly identified in the recent PCA Roadmap, and an accomplishment absolutely crucial to guarantee we meet these goals.”

“By the end of 2022, we will implement full conversion from traditional ASTM C150 Type I and II cements (OPC) to ASTM C595 Type IL (PLC) cement,” reveals Massimo. “The conversion began with our plants in Cape Girardeau and Festus, MO, Greencastle, IN, Maryneal, TX, and Pryor, OK, making the transition to Type IL (PLC) by the end of Q1 2022. Alamo Cement Company in San Antonio, TX, will complete its transition by mid-2022 followed by our Chattanooga, TN, plant in Q3 2022. Finally, our Stockertown, PA, plant will fully convert by year-end. Type IL (PLC) cement can reduce the CO2 emissions up to 15 percent

in comparison with traditional cement.

With these changes, Buzzi Unicem USA and Alamo Cement are supporting the cement industry’s goal of reducing carbon emission intensity.”

“We, as the Buzzi Unicem Group, are dedicated to complete the transition as quickly as possible but, at the same time, we know that we need to pay even more attention to the quality of our product,” adds Daniel. “Our customers have come to expect much from us and they will judge us with more intensity on this new product. We need to be sure to consistently meet both our targets and theirs.”

Having referred to the fact that the new PLC cement lowers emissions, Massimo directed the conversation to the importance of the wider commitments made by the international community to limit climate change. “Respecting the prevailing opinion of the scientific community, which attributes part of global warming to greenhouse gas emissions and particularly CO2 emissions, Buzzi Unicem Group monitors its own emissions and reports on these in absolute and specific terms in its annual Sustainability Report.

“The Group is committed to reducing its

CO2 emissions in line with the objectives that have been established over the years by international climate protocols. After the Paris Agreement of December 2015, the commitment was extended to all countries in which the Group operates.

“It is dedicated to climate change mitigation and aims for full transparency in its strategy to manage climate-related risks and opportunities. The company is active in research and collaboration with other industry players and stakeholders to further increase the understanding of the effects of climate change along the entire cement value chain and to limit its impacts,” he says.

Climate Change, along with two areas that have already been highlighted - Safety and Stakeholder Engagement - make up the Group’s stringent internal Sustainability Policies, within which objectives are monitored and periodically re-examined to ensure continuous improvements.

Recognized as the three most important issues for the company and its stakeholders, each policy, along with the respective targets, can be associated to one or more of the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development

Goals and highlight Buzzi Unicem’s tangible contribution to the UN’s 2030 Agenda.

“At Buzzi Unicem, we believe that sustainability goes beyond plant operations,” Massimo explains, detailing how this area is also very much about people. “Our Stakeholder Engagement Policy recognizes the importance of building and maintaining relationships of trust based on mutual respect, active partnership, transparency and long-term collaboration within the communities in which we operate.

“The fundamental reason for building and maintaining these relationships over time starts from the understanding that we do not operate in a detached manner from the

social, urban and environmental context. In fact, we have had many interactions over the years and will continue to do so in the future. The purpose of the Stakeholder Engagement Policy is to facilitate these interactions to become opportunities for mutual growth for both the company and the community,” he adds.

The communities to which Massimo refers have faced extreme challenges over the past two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic; in 2020 and 2021 Buzzi Unicem responded generously with charitable financial donations to United Way of Putnam County, the SoutheastHEALTH Foundation, United Way of Southeast Missouri and the SEMO Food Bank.

Charah Solutions Charah Solutions have been a proud long-term partner with Buzzi Unicem USA since 1986, supplying sustainable cement raw feed materials to their cement plants around the country. Buzzi Unicem USA and Charah Solutions share a main core value and goal to protect the environment by producing sustainable carbon neutral products for the betterment of our customers and communities.

Since 2020, Charah Solutions have prevented over 4.79 million tons of CO2 from entering the atmosphere through the beneficial use of fly ash and other raw materials. We are proud to partner with Buzzi Unicem USA to provide sustainable raw materials to make this goal a reality.

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Buzzi Unicem USA Demonstrating how the business offers help at a very local level to its plants, these contributions made a significant difference to struggling families in those areas, and represent how even the largest of corporations can look after its neighbors when they are in need of assistance.

Of course, the business’ approach considered the care and wellbeing of employees during Covid-19, too. “In all countries where Buzzi Unicem operates, it continued to pursue activities to counter the pandemic,” confirms Joseph Lopes. “One of the ways we’ve implemented change is through remote working, which we made extensive use of in 2021 for the administrative and sales staff, including for the purposes of reconciling individuals’ work and private life.”

As the fight against coronavirus continues, Buzzi Unicem USA moves forward into the second quarter of 2022 with strong sales and a positive outlook. “Last year the general growth in economic activity resulted in a positive dynamic of cement and concrete consumption,” comments Nancy Krial, Senior VP and CFO. “Our sales of hydraulic binders, thanks to strong demand and to generally positive weather conditions, especially in the fourth quarter, confirmed steady progress. At present, we are vigilant on the unprecedented cost increase in energy and power and are taking any possible action to mitigate these negative factors.”

A recent investment in the installation of a 10MW Solar Power System in San Antonio, which will provide up to 15 percent of carbon-free energy to the cement plant, is one way that the business is tackling energy prices in a sustainable and environmentallyresponsible way.

“The current economic cycle shows some headwinds especially coming from current inflation and the continuous production and logistics cost increases; in any case we still have a cautious optimism in the resilience of our industry and have a reasonable expectation of a stable level of cement and concrete consumption,” Nancy adds.

In summing up his ambitions for the next three-to-five years, Massimo highlighted the main focus as remaining ‘on continually improving our safety performance and, at the same time, completing the transition to produce the low carbon cement in all of our cement plants’.

“Again, in keeping with our commitment to the environment, we will invest time

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and resources to investigate products and technologies that continue to reduce our environmental footprint,” concludes Daniel Rinke. “This includes measures to reduce our direct emissions of CO2, increasing the limestone content in our portland and blended cements, resulting in reduced clinker factors, and the production of high, early strength cements that also fall in line with our goals, while meeting the demands of our customers.”

These goals may be ambitious, but when looking back at the achievements that Buzzi Unicem has already attained,

history would dictate that this modern and forward-thinking business will reach these heights - and go even further in the future.

Bold enough to transition to new cements and confident in its sustainability journey, Buzzi Unicem is setting a high standard for cement manufacturers and proving that large corporations can care not only about output – but also people, communities and the wider planet as a whole. It has a long legacy of success to build out from, and it looks set to contribute to the solid foundations of American construction for years to come.

RHI Magnesita RHI Magnesita has developed an extensive Technical Digital Solutions Hub. Taking information from Mechanical Kiln survey’s, 3D Laser surveys of retained lining to clinker analysis and post-mortem testing. The services and product we apply to our customer sites allow RHI Magnesita to constantly evolve and generate the timely reporting of information and technologies to optimize the value we supply to our customers.

With the largest number of locations worldwide, and the most innovative and reliable products and services, RHI Magnesita intends to use its global leadership position to set the pace of innovation in the industry, and deliver the best for its customers. In 2021, RHI Magnesita reached the record of Refractory Recycling utilization, reinforcing its commitment to build a sustainable future.

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BMarko Structures

Making it

modular

BMarko Structures https://bmarkostructures.com Services: Commercial builders

Leading commercial builder, BMarko Structures, stands out from the crowd with its efficient, innovative modular structures

S

ince 2014, BMarko Structures (BMarko) has been a strong force of innovation in the commercial construction industry. Using alternative methods of modular construction, the Atlanta-based company specializes in custom shipping container conversions to create pre-made structures that are efficient and reliable. Following the major success of its modular hospital design during the Covid-19 pandemic, BMarko looks forward to ongoing

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expansion, and a number of exciting, up-andcoming projects.

“For the last eight years, BMarko Structures has provided high-quality modular structures spanning across a vast number of industries and applications. We are one of the few, maybe only, modular company that has entered the steel modular, wood modular as well as shipping container modifications arenas.

We believe that servicing our client needs should not be a singular selection of a building

system. Expanding into apartment buildings, kitchens as well as hospitals, we have provided exceptional buildings at very fast delivery timelines, ” introduces Antony Kountouris, Chief Executive Officer at BMarko.

Since its inception, the company has developed a range of core specialisms, as Antony details: “One of our specialties is in 100 percent custom-modified shipping containers with higher-end finishes and creative architecture for commercial and industrial use.

On the retail side, our clientele is mostly made up of established businesses that are looking to expand their physical presence with a new structure that can supplement their current locations. Some of those structures may include bars, coffee shops, bathrooms, event containers, or offices. On the industrial side, our clients are usually looking for structures that enclose power and electrical equipment, data centers, pump houses, water treatment plants, and more.”

With established connections across a range of industries, BMarko continues to thrive. The company continually sets itself apart, with minimal wait periods on buildings, and a unique engineering facility. “We have always had some of the best lead times in the industry, and we pride ourselves on delivering an on-time service. With over 200 projects under our belt, we have delivered 99 percent of our buildings either on or before the deadline. Working inside of our manufacturing facility helps us stay efficient and punctual eliminating outside variables such as weather delays.

“That’s always been a feather in our cap when selling our products to clients, because our structures are up and running much quicker than if they had been built using traditional construction techniques. Our modules are

usually shipped 90 percent completed, so customers can save valuable time by placing the units directly onto their existing land.

Then the buildings are simply connected to the utility hook-ups, and they are ready to go.

We may not be the cheapest on the market, because we focus on high-end finishes and quality, but the downtime that comes with choosing modular helps our customers save in the end.”

This fresh, innovative way of working has given BMarko the power to disrupt the status quo. Attracting a range of customers, BMarko provides facilities for companies working at the cutting-edge of their field. As Antony discusses: “We take pride in each and every building that we put out, because it’s a reflection of our hard work and dedication.

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BMarko Structures

When a client looks at the building or structure at the final site, we want them to be as proud of calling the building their own as we are to have supplied it.

“Regarding some specific projects, we’ve won awards at the Modular Building Institute Awards of Distinction ceremony the past three years, and each of those projects was special, either because they were aesthetically impressive, or because they were significant due to their subject matter. For example, in 2019, we built an office complex for Wing, a Google subsidiary.

Having developed a lightweight drone delivery and navigation system that could autonomously deliver small packages – including food, medicine, and household items

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– directly to homes in minutes, they needed a field office to support their first fleet of delivery drones in Virginia, which is where we came in. Due to the project’s short deadline, shipping containers were the perfect solution for the offices. We were able to build it in only six weeks.

“Additionally, in 2021, we built a 13-container office complex for a company called Hermeus, which is a venture-backed start-up with the long-term vision of transforming the global human transportation network with Mach 5 transportation. At Mach 5, travel is not just supersonic, it’s hypersonic. At these speeds – over 3000 miles per hour – flight times from New York to London would be 90 minutes rather than seven hours.

“They needed a field office where they could test engines safely, while also fulfilling the design and feel of their company brand. Due to our modular approach, they were able to have the field office up and running a month after breaking ground on the final site.”

One of the company’s most exciting and prominent projects involved the emergency construction of numerous hospital facilities that were used to support healthcare providers during the height of the pandemic. This proud accomplishment is emblematic of the ethos behind BMarko, as Antony reveals: “Our work in building pop-up Covid-19 hospitals was fast and furious. We saw that the big issue with Covid-19 was that hospitals were quickly running out of space in their ICU units, and we wanted to help.

“Being in the modular industry, our calling card is that we can make buildings fast and that they can be placed and be ready to go in minimal amounts of time. We realized that we could truly help to save lives with our expertise, so we hired a designer with a background in healthcare facilities and she was able to mock up some floor plans that would eventually be worked into the final hospital units. That was a huge undertaking in itself, just learning all the specifics about what is needed in the ICU units from the HVAC systems needing to cycle in new air in a certain amount of time to the headwall units and oxygen lines.

“We named the project ‘Liberty Boxes’ after the ‘Liberty Ships’ that were made in a similar fashion during World War II. So, we had the design, now we had to market it to just about every single government disaster agency we were able to get a hold of through email. Finally, GEMA or Georgia Emergency Management Agency reached out to us and wanted us to complete 48 patient rooms divided into two hospitals in just 4 weeks.

Then came the rapid hiring process to actually build them. We had contracted roughly 100 new workers to work this project in two different shifts around the clock. We knew that every minute and every hour could possibly save lives.

“At the end, BMarko Structures designed, constructed, and delivered the keys to two hospitals, and 48 patient rooms, just four weeks after the contract had been awarded.

Each hospital consisted of 21 modules. Both hospitals are now open for use at Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital in Albany, GA and Navicent Hospital in Macon, GA. It was easily the most exhausting project we’ve ever done, but also the most rewarding.”

When the Governor of Georgia, Brian Kemp,

toured the facilities BMarko had constructed, he made the following comment: “One of the best decisions we made early on were these mobile hospital sites. It really is impressive how well built they are and how quick they got stood up — medically ready with oxygen and everything else.”

This proud accomplishment sets the stage for an exciting few years ahead for BMarko, as it continues to shape the future of commercial construction. The company has plans for a brand-new factory, as well as numerous projects in the pipeline for 2022 and 2023, as Antony concludes: “Our focus will continue to be on providing our customers with quality modular buildings and custom shipping containers; we are looking forward to some more exciting projects to showcase in the near future.

“In addition, we are currently in the process of moving to a new facility in the next month or two so that’ll be a fun time for the whole team, as we get some new digs and a place we can customize even more to better fit the way we build. ”

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Willis Smith Construction

Living a

legacy

Willis Smith Construction www.willissmith.com Services: Residential and commercial builder

Based in Sarasota, Florida, Willis Smith Construction offers expert commercial builder services, and has been providing quality construction services in Southwest Florida since 1972

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elebrating its 50th year in business, Willis Smith Construction (Willis Smith) is proud of the journey it has undertaken to reach its level of success. The business began as a small company with two employees and has continued to grow successfully within the Sarasota region. “We’ve rarely ventured too far beyond a 100-mile radius, and the reason for that is we can provide outstanding customer service to our clients,” says David Sessions, the

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business’s CEO. “For the last couple of years, we have tried to be very strategic through the challenges that have arisen in order to focus on who we are, our core values and to continue to provide a wonderful working experience, not only for our employees but also for our clients.”

We speak with David, and Taylor Aultman, the VP and Project Executive, as well as Zack Holzworth, the company’s Project Manager to learn more about how Willis Smith guarantees best practices for its work in the public and

private sector, with a larger portion of projects in the educational field. “We have a number of different colleges and universities that need building, which our clients come to us for on a regular basis. We build a number of fire stations in the community as well, in addition to libraries and transportation facilities that fit in that public sector realm,” says Zack.

“We are very customer service driven, and we are strategically selective about the sorts of projects we choose to do. We don’t

Main image left and below: Block 40, Hollywood

“We are always looking five years ahead, and our plan is fundamentally simple and that is to offer good value to our clients, and have a wonderful internal culture to provide challenges for our employees that will reinforce their personal growth and career development” necessarily go out there and chase every construction project for the sake of building a revenue stream or growing the company. We pick projects where we think we can provide significant value to our clients,” David adds.

For Willis Smith, maintaining an exemplary reputation that continues to put its people first is vital to its continued success, and David would agree that this is what sets the construction company apart. “Although we stay in a very close geographical area, it’s on our

employees to maintain those relationships. Our biggest benefit is our employees are here in the community every day, providing customer service and keeping those relationships great.”

A demonstration of the company’s best practices can be seen in the conversion of a high school built in 1926 into a museum, a project that it recently undertook. “We had to work with architecture and engineering teams to figure out ways to make the building suit a new use, which included using epoxy

to reinforce on the exterior walls. When we worked on the historical lobby, we restored it to its original state, so that some of the residents that once attended could see their old high school in that museum. It was a unique project, and a challenge, but incredibly rewarding once it had been completed,” explains Zack.

“We used wood joists that were across the whole floor structure to create reclaimed heart pine in the gallery spaces. Instead of just throwing it out - some of them are 300-year-

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Willis Smith Construction

old heart pine joists, and it would be a shame to put them into landfill - we found a way to use them in that space, and it’s now a really beautiful, unique feature in that museum,” he continues.

According to David, the building is a landmark for its surrounding community, and being able to restore some of the original features while giving new life to a historical building has played a significant role in the heritage of the area. “Our vision is to build landmarks and iconic structures and facilities for this community. I can share a couple of current projects that we have broken ground on. One is at Selby Gardens, also known as the Selby Gardens master plan, which will consist of a new welcome centre, a research facility, restaurant, gift shop and art gallery, as well as provide parking for future expansion.”

In addition to that, the company has begun working on what is called Mote SEA, which stands for science, education, aquarium. “I feel it is going to be an iconic structure that

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will host a state-of-the-art aquarium that is currently under construction in this region. Once it is completed, the existing facilities will be converted to a state-of-the-art marine research centre,” says David.

The conversation then moves towards the people of the business, which David alluded to earlier, and how adamant the company is to provide an excellent training scheme to support its employees. “We have a number of project managers who all started here, fresh out of college, and we basically fitted them into our company’s culture, ethics, integrity, and customer service values, which is all part of the initial recruitment philosophy. This also helps us maintain our family-type environment here. We work hard, but we also have a lot of fun doing different events together, whether it’s a 5K run on the weekend, or going on company retreats. The other thing we do is encourage our people to get out in the community and volunteer, or join in helping a non-profit organization that is set up with a mission

loosely geared towards the betterment of our community.

“We support anybody who wants to go through leadership programmes, but volunteerism is just as important to us. We view that as a social responsibility to our community, and part of that is giving back in whatever way we can. There is a very strong commitment and culture here in doing just that,” explains David.

Willis Smith is now ready to take on the future, with a determination to refine its practices and take on bigger projects. “The goal is to continue with what we have been doing successfully, and provide outstanding value to our existing clients, as well as new ones.

Roughly 75 percent of everything we do is repeat business, so our strategy is to maintain good customer relations, stick with what we know best, and focus on whatever changes come our way.

“We are always looking five years ahead, and our plan is fundamentally simple and

that is to offer good value to our clients, and have a wonderful internal culture to provide challenges for our employees that will reinforce their personal growth and career development,” David informs us.

In his final thoughts, David shares a few closing remarks on the importance of 50 years in business, and how proud he is of his company. He looks forward to the journey ahead, and has every confidence that his

team will continue to do an excellent job, no matter the project. “We haven’t been great at reflecting on what we have accomplished each year, and now we’ve had 50. Life goes by so quickly, and so for 2022, we are spending all year celebrating our 50th anniversary, and part of that is to look back on the legacy of this company, and how we can continue to serve our community going forward,” he concludes.

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Timberlab

Sustainable skylines With nearly half-a-million-square-feet of mass timber already built, Timberlab is accelerating the mainstream adoption of more renewable materials in the construction industry

T Timberlab https://timberlab.com/ Services: Mass timber construction

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imberlab is a young company with a wealth of industry knowledge.

Born from Swinerton Builders, a commercial construction company with more than a century’s worth of experience, the off-shoot progeny is now recognized as a leader within the US mass timber market.

“Though we’re young, our history makes us feel much older,” begins Chris Evans, President at Timberlab. “Right now, more and more mass timber projects are being started, and the

renewable material has increased its market share. As the industry grows, so do we. In this innovative field where much of our work is precedent-setting, our philosophy is to provide our team with the autonomy and resources they need to be well-rounded and open-minded problem solvers.

“That’s the backbone of our company: helping people become strong, independent thinkers with myriad skillsets,” he adds. “The newness of this industry means its fraught with challenges.

Solving them is really exciting! Each day, there’s a new challenge to face. Whether it’s concerning a mammoth high-rise or a small office building, issues crop up everywhere. Right now, for example, one challenge we face is the fact that, owing to supply chain issues, demand will soon outpace supply. In turn, we must continue to evolve so that we can make sure the entire industry is scaling to meet the demand. To that end, we have opened a fabrication facility in Portland to provide more CNC capacity, free

up the supply chain, and help regional glulam manufacturers become large-scale industry players. By overcoming these challenges, Timberlab is directly facilitating the adoption and utilization of mass timber within the US construction industry.

“We’ve set up our business to address major pinch-points in the supply chain, mitigating potential risks by taking ownership of services that aren’t widely available on the marketplace,” says Erica Spiritos, VP and Director of

Preconstruction at Timberlab. “As such, we’ve become more vertically integrated, establishing in-house timber engineering, virtual design construction (also known as detailing), and fabrication and installation services. By having control over schedule, quality, and cost at each step, we’ve created an incredible feedback loop to utilize across all our projects. By applying this regimented business structure, Timberlab will continue to make progress in the mass timber industry.”

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Timberlab timber. Timberlab was hired in 2019 to support the design of the building, guiding it down a path that was not only cost-effective but also constructible. To refine the structure, we worked alongside the project team on necessary design changes, including the reorientation of beams and the strategic encapsulation of glulam columns, as well as reducing overall costs associated with the structure, especially in places where materials didn’t add to the visual impact of the building.

“A major aspect of our design work was optimizing timber connections,” she continues. “This might, for example, mean reducing the amount of steel in beam-tocolumn and column-to-column joints. Another important aspect of our work was fire testing.

In the first test of its kind to take place, Timberlab facilitated the testing of glulam columns and received a three-hour fireresistance rating. By using three different wood species, we could establish the char

Recently, Timberlab has experienced tremendous growth thanks to its holistic view on construction. The full-service mass timber builder has set itself apart from competitors by offering solutions that harmoniously integrate the timber with other building systems, including the mechanical system, the façade, and any nontimber lateral systems. In doing so, Timberlab is recognized as a partner to both architects and general contractors in the success of the entire project.

Progress, indeed: Portland International Airport, First Tech Federal Credit Union, Beaverton Public Safety Center, Hidden Creek Community Center – these names are among Timberlab’s long list of completed projects. From preconstruction to installation, the construction company is sustainably shaping US skylines with its low carbon construction methods and materials, sequestering over 50,000 tons of

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carbon already in the process (data taken from WoodWorks’ ‘Carbon Calculator’).

Topping that list, however, is a project unlike any other. At 284 feet, Ascent certainly lives up to its name. Consisting of 230 apartments spread across 19 stories of timber, the Milwaukee-based luxury apartment building utilizes over 273,000-square-feet of mass timber, making it the world’s tallest hybrid mass timber structure in the world. The project also received a US Forest Service Wood Innovation Grant for its unprecedented use of timber in high-rise construction, bolstering Timberlab’s status as a trailblazer.

Erica, who was recently named by ThinkWood as one of six key women innovating in architecture, engineering, and construction, expertly breaks down the processes behind the mammoth tower: “The Ascent project is a huge testament to what is possible with mass

rating of columns in a simulated three-hour fire event. We also conducted two-hour fire testing for CLT floor panels, ensuring they met all fire and life safety requirements for high-rise construction.”

Additionally, Timberlab established a robust procurement strategy for the Ascent project, empowering designers and architects to meet their aesthetic and budgetary goals with ease – no easy feat given the supply chain and logistics hurdles brought about by the pandemic at the time. In fact, during the height of the Covid-19 crisis, Timberlab was still able to procure 1150 glulam columns, 1320 glulam beams, and 1273 CLT panels for the giant build.

“With projects like Ascent, success depends on the amount of effort the team puts in,” comments Erica. “There were so many hurdles to overcome – both code-wise and cost-wise – on that project. At certain points, it was unclear whether or not the tower would even be built.

We took a leap of faith and invested everything we had to bring that building to life.

“Our team operates under a shared belief that we’re trying to drive the industry forward,” she adds. “If something has not been done before, then that’s even more reason to do it. Each time we realize this vision in our timber buildings, we learn more about the industry and ourselves.”

In 2021, the International Building Code (IBC) was updated to include new provisions for tall wood buildings, signaling a bigger and brighter future for Timberlab and the mass timber industry as a whole. Several states, including Washington, Oregon, and California have already adopted the new provisions. Others are keen to follow suit.

Below: Left, Chris Evans, President and Erica Spiritos, VP Director of Preconstruction As Erica indicates, this will dramatically change the industry – and the world – for the better: “These provisions establish three new construction types with increasing height and fire performance requirements: type 4C permits eight-story, fully exposed timber structures; type 4B permits partially exposed 12-story timber structures, but this could be updated in 2024 to become fully exposed; and type 4A permits a staggering 18 stories and requires the same fire and life safety rating as a type 1, noncombustible structure (which would typically be made from less sustainable materials such as concrete and steel.)

“The result of this exciting evolution is that Timberlab will be better able to break into new markets and compete with less sustainable construction methods,” she concludes. “We’re reshaping urban skylines with renewable materials and creating a lighter carbon footprint in the process. Looking towards the future, we’re less focused on where we will be in five years, and more focused on where the industry will be in that time. If we continue to uplift the industry and drive progress forward for both construction and the planet, we’ll be just fine.”

Zip-O-Laminators Backed by over 75 years of experience in the lumber industry, the newest division of Zip-O-Log Mills was founded with the same core beliefs: to produce high quality products, on time, with exceptional service. Zip-O-Laminators is uniquely situated as a glulam manufacturer, connected to a sawmill that owns and operates its own kilns. We are FSC certified and can currently manufacturer beams in Douglas fir or Alaskan Yellow Cedar up to 115 feet long, 28 inches wide and 111 inches deep. Think it can’t be done? Think again!

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Karsten Interior Services

It’s our job!

Karsten Interior Services https://karsteninterior.com

Karsten Interior Services’ Mission Statement has survived for 25 years.

Through good times and bad, always putting its staff first has created a company culture to do whatever it takes to take care of customers and employees

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ith 25 years’ worth of commercial subcontracting experience, Karsten Interior Services (Karsten) prides itself on great quality and honest work. Focusing on quality and customer service on every project has ensured the ongoing success of the business, which provides a

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safe, reliable and timely completion of work across the Houston commercial construction industry.

“About ten years ago Karsten added ‘It’s our Job!’ to our company logo to reinforce that we will do whatever it takes to take care of our people, our clients and our projects,” began Sarina Landers, Marketing and Business Development Manager.

Since being founded in 1996, Karsten has come a long way. As its Owner, Dan Karsten, reveals: “Karsten Interior Services was founded in 1996. What started as a drywall company that employed just five people has since grown into a company taking care of over 400 employees and their families, while offering multiple services, including Acoustical Ceilings, Paint & Wallcovering and Pre-fabrication.

Watermark Heights in a new, highly-touted luxury living space for seniors that recently opened in Houston Heights

The Ion project is the anchor for Houston’s innovation district between downtown and the Texas Medical Center

Karsten built the entire load-bearing framing system for the eight-story, 340,980 SQ structure at Broadstone Heights

“Our mission is to provide the highest quality and most dependable construction services to our clients. We will achieve this mission through hard work, honesty and integrity while providing and safe and reliable work environment for our most valuable asset, our employees” “I am proud of the fact that today we have over 400 highly skilled employees across the Greater Houston Area. Our first big milestone was the tenth anniversary, which represented a major growth period for us.

As a newer construction company, the tenyear-mark felt like the beginning of us really being recognized by our peers as a strong performer capable of making an impact on the Houston construction community.

“Our recent 25th anniversary was last year, near the end of the pandemic and since then, we have refocused on succession planning. Building up the middle

management team, developing our next generation of leaders, implementing our mentorship program, and investing in the continued growth and sustainability of the business has been a big focus for us. Turning 60 years old this last year, it was time to turn over more of our Operational, Leadership and Management opportunities to our next group of Leaders.

We have an amazing crew of managers and leaders that will provide the next 25 years of growth and our succession planning will continue to be a big focus for our talent pipeline. I have three of my own

children working here today and it’s fun to see their individual growth and contributions to our company.”

Throughout its history, Karsten’s team has developed expert knowledge in a range of key services, including drywall, acoustical ceilings, painting, wall coverings and demolition. “Each individual person on the team is able to provide something unique for our clients and that has helped make us a successful company. Whether it’s hanging sheetrock, painting or dropping acoustical tile we can provide any service within our portfolio at an incredibly high standard.”

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Karsten Interior Services

Construction has begun on Phase One at TMC3 which will be the world’s largest life science campus “Karsten focuses on providing an outstanding customer experience. As stated in our mission statement, our number one asset is our employees and they allow us to differentiate our company from our competitors. The repeat business and contracts we get are because of our employees and the relationships they’ve created within the business.

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Their knowledge and skills are what allows us build the next project,” added Todd Fry, COO. Providing a consistent, high-quality service has helped Karsten build a strong reputation. The company has received a number of awards and accreditations for its work, as Todd enthuses: “We recently won a couple of awards for our work on the ION,

which was an extremely high-profile project for us and it garnered a lot of recognition in the community.” Dubbed the ‘nucleus for innovation, collaboration and exploration’, the ION fosters a community and culture where corporate innovators, academic partners, community partners, start-ups and entrepreneurs can come together to solve problems.

Carrying out the Karsten family legacy and watching his children making their own contributions to the industry gives Dan a lot of pride

Karsten’s Women in Construction efforts has garnished a lot of industry attention as it continues making strides to recruit more ladies into the industry

bright future, the company will remain focused on nurturing the potential of its people, as Dan concludes: “Focusing on employee growth and development, succession planning throughout the company, and doubling down on the opportunities set forth in our own Training and Educational Opportunity; Karsten College, to grow our next generation of employees and leaders, is an extremely important focus for us. We feel that providing a safe, defined educational path for our employees will create the biggest success, not only for the employee, but for the company as well.” It’s our job!

“Partnering with Gilbane was a huge honor and together we were able to overcome a lot of obstacles to make the project successful.

It was a great accomplishment for all parties involved. Additionally, it showcases our capabilities and gives name brand recognition to those who might not know who we are. The trade associations have really helped Karsten gain recognition from a project level. It’s neat for the team to take a snap shot in time and reflect on what they have created. Sometimes we are so focused on the next project that it is rewarding to celebrate them for the outstanding work they have done,” adds Todd.

None of these amazing accomplishments would have been possible without Karsten’s hard-working team. The company benefits from a positive and collaborative working culture, as Dan confirms: “The people side of the business is everything. Our family environment here at Karsten means so much to us, because we are a very tight-knit group.

“We work on the company culture in every meeting we conduct. During the pandemic it was hard to maintain the closeness that we were used to, with closed doors, zoom meetings and people working from home.

We have challenged ourselves to get back to the people side of the business in order to continue our cultural success story.”

As a family, Karsten Interior Services continues to see success. As it builds toward a

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Pieper-Houston Electric

Outperforming

the pack With more than 60 years of heritage, commercial electrical contractor Pieper-Houston Electric is thriving thanks to a set of key relationships with major industry players

Pieper-Houston Electric www.pieperhouston.com Services: Commercial electrical contractor

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ieper-Houston Electric (Pieper) has provided quality electrical work to the greater Houston area since 1958. Beginning life as a small, family-owned residential contractor with annual revenues of just $10,000, the company has since grown to become a fullservice, fully insured commercial electrical contractor, holding a significant aggregate

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bonding capacity in excess of $100 million.

To date, Pieper has designed, installed, and maintained hundreds of projects, ranging from simple repairs of switchgear to the design and build of a facility as large as 820,000-square-feet.

For many within the US construction market, the last few years have presented a mixed picture. Following the arrival of

the Covid-19 pandemic, the commercial construction sector experienced a dip in the first two quarters of 2020, before a period of relative stability. However, with construction deemed an essential industry, by July of that same year optimism among contractors began to return, as delays to projects fell in number, and companies sought to embrace new ways of working. For Pieper, the story

was much the same, with field operations and project commitments ongoing amid the disruption. But it was by no means business-as-usual.

“To continue operating in the field was a significant challenge,” explains Bud Walters, CEO of Pieper. “There were a few points, during the height of the pandemic, that we had a high percentage of our labor force

unavailable due to quarantine restrictions.

We therefore had to authorize overtime to replace those who were absent. Within our offices, we also felt the pressure to keep our operations going. It was very important for us to ensure that all our employee-owners did not have a lapse in pay. Thankfully, we were able to adapt, eliminating shared workspaces by expanding work-from-home,

and introducing alternating in-office days.”

One thing clear from Bud’s comments on the subject is the vital importance of Pieper’s employees to the company’s operations. It’s testament to the well-defined set of values that govern Pieper’s activities: safety, ethics, ownership, respect, and legacy.

“Safety comes first,” Bud insists. “We ask our employee-owners across the entire

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Pieper-Houston Electric

organization to put their owner’s hat on and share ways to become more efficient, while providing an industry-best service, and the well-being of our employee-owners and trade partners is our number one goal. Next comes ethics. We honor our commitments to customers, vendors, fellow employee-owners, and our community.

We hold ourselves accountable to the highest standard.

“Then, we also empower all employeeowners to take ownership every step of the way,” he adds. “We recognize that all employee-owners are essential to the organization, and maintain a culture that fosters broad participation and respects all ideas for improvement and strategic direction. Finally, we set out to build upon the legacy that Pieper has built over the last 60 years, planning for the future, and realizing our commitment to remaining a multi-generational, employeeowned company.”

The concept of employee ownership is not new, but it’s one that’s rapidly gaining momentum. As of 2022, the National Center for Employee Ownership in the US estimated that there are approximately

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32 million employees participating in some form of ownership plan, numbers which very well could be conservative. The most common type of plan is ESOPs (Employee Stock Ownership Plans), a type of qualified defined contribution scheme that gives employees an ownership interest in the company, in the form of stocks.

There are an estimated 6500 ESOPs in the US, and Pieper is one of them. The company first sold a portion of its business to an ESOP in 2020, and now has plans to roll out the scheme further, with the ultimate objective of becoming 100-percent employeeowned. For Bud, it’s another indication, as he puts it, that “people are everything in our business.” He goes on: “The company with the most engaged, talented, motivated, and incentivized people will outperform the pack.

Communicating to our 300-plus employeeowners as owners, and not just employees, provides Pieper a unique advantage on this front.”

Fittingly, one of the principal driving factors behind Pieper’s long-term growth has been the successful recruitment of talent, something that has bolstered the company in its efforts to take on larger, more

complicated projects. Today, Pieper boasts an outstanding reputation as one of the largest electrical contractors in the Houston area, with impeccable standards of workmanship and innovation. Meanwhile, the company’s commitment to continuing and higher education enables it to provide clients with exceptional work that delivers on the latest industry standards.

“As well as a best-in-class safety program, we offer rigorous standards of quality control, and a high degree of coordination with other trades across the BIM and design process,” Bud insists. “Added to that, we’re 100-percent self-performing electrical subcontractor.”

It’s an arsenal that has helped Pieper to build a robust set of industry partnerships, and a steady stream of new projects: among them, recent work on the rewiring of a new testing facility at Hewlett-Packard’s Houston office, along with the installation of a onemegawatt generator for the standalone building. A huge project, its completion is testament to the combined work of more than 100 individual electricians.

“Pieper and Hewlett-Packard have built a solid and successful relationship over the 24+ years we have worked together. HP’s

Houston office is continually expanding, remodeling, and evolving, and we’ve been there to help HP every step of the way,” Bud explains. “In fact, we’ve handled 95 percent of HP’s Houston manufacturing facilities, and have also installed and maintained much of the electrical infrastructure, as well as wired many interior office build-outs and remodels.

Under short time constraints, we finished the recent project in just a matter of months, allowing HP to get a jump start on testing new technologies and to put the company’s products on the market.”

Pieper’s work for HP is one example of what Bud refers to as a “relationship-centric” approach to business. “We tend to work with a few general contractors year-in-and-yearout who share our values,” he comments. A partner of similar ilk is Tellepsen Builders, for whom Pieper recently completed work on the renovation of the sports field at Grace Bible Church, an outdoor recreational facility. The work as a whole included the construction of a new parking area, along with athletic fields, a pickleball court, volleyball court, pavilion, and more.

“In addition, we’ve been blessed to partner with great architecture and engineering firms, general contractors, and subcontractors to produce landmark buildings that serve our community,” Bud reflects. “Similarly, now more than ever, our supplier relationships are extremely important. We continue to take a team approach to help overcome the challenges post-pandemic, including inflation, stockouts, and long lead times.”

Looking ahead to the remainder of 2022, Bud expresses Pieper’s determination to continue winning marquee projects in the Greater Houston market, with the

goal of driving double-digit growth, while successfully managing material escalation and other supply chain related risks. “We have recently made large scale investments in our pre-fabrication facilities, design capabilities, and field technology,” he concludes. “Moving

forward, we’ll continue to expand each of those, giving us the means to offer a premium service level at a very competitive price.

In doing so, we’re confident that we can maintain our position at the forefront of the industry.”

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QLM

Seamless skilled staffing services

QLM https://Myqlm.com Services: Staffing and recruitment

Since 2007, QLM has been offering total staffing solutions with a competitive edge to clients across a range of industries

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ith a strong focus on safety, productivity and quality (SPQ), QLM brings talented and dedicated workers into contact with job sites across the US. Striving to serve both its team members and clients, the company provides outstanding backhouse support as well as project management capabilities. With specialized areas in cell tower construction, solar energy, general construction and industrial work, QLM goes

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above and beyond to offer its clients, and teams of hard-working individuals, the support they need.

Unlike many of its competitors, QLM offers its Team Members permanent jobs and a wealth of personal education and development resources. “I think the number one difference between us and other companies is that we take in individuals who are often dismissed as temporary workers, and make them part of a permanent team,” asserts Mark Lang,

President of QLM. We try to provide people with an opportunity to make this the last job they ever need to have. In the construction industry, it’s quite common that jobs will have a defined beginning and end, but with us people will find long-term positions, and local assignments that mean they won’t be transferred out of area.

“We also promote things like SPQ (Safety, Productivity and Quality). To encourage that we offer rewards for team members who

consistently work safely and conscientiously.

Rewarding dedication and hard work is important to us, as we value safety above all else. In addition, we strive to create an atmosphere where people feel they belong, by implementing ‘team member of the month’ we have been able to highlight and boost the confidence of team members across our network.

“A lot of companies in our industry are about body counts – the more people they put

through the door the more they get paid – but we follow a doctrine of quality over quantity. I would rather put a quality person to work, who can represent the company correctly, rather than assign lots of people to work who aren’t prepared, or right for the role.”

“We are different because we provide a full mentorship and support service – that means we are not just sending people to jobsites, we are also going onto those sites with people, and supporting them with industry knowledge. No other service actually offers that in the way that we do,” adds Mel Lang, Area Representative and Vice President of QLM Energy.

Today, QLM operates in a number of sectors.

In order to manage such a diverse range

of personnel and expertise, the company operates vertically, with different teams overseeing specific services for each sector.

One of QLM’s fastest growing divisions is in telecommunication tower construction and maintenance, as QLM’s Chief Revenue Officer, Frédéric Guitton, discusses: “The cell tower division of QLM has a veteran-focused mission, and that’s because fellow Area Representative Chad Borek, is actually a veteran.

“When he left the service, he was looking for the next step in his career, and what he found was that veterans have a certain skill set, and a drive to work in more challenging roles.

Working in the staffing industry, he realized that those skills are applicable to a lot of construction and maintenance roles in the cell

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QLM tower sector; for example, the ability to climb, and follow orders, means that veterans make for incredibly safe and reliable workers.”

Chad himself drew on his wealth of experience to develop and expand this branch of QLM, as he details: “I didn’t think I had any correlating skills when I entered the civilian market, so, like a lot of veterans, I struggled when I got out. I had a difficult time, until about four years after leaving the military, when I found out about the cell tower industry.

“It was the dream job, because it appealed not only to my existing skill set, but my desire to work in challenging and complex situations.

I knew there were a lot of other veterans out there just like me who would excel at this job, and I also knew that this kind of opportunity could make the transition, when coming out of service, a lot easier. I knew that the staffing industry could benefit from these young leaders, who have gone out and defended our country, and so I began developing the veteran program.

“Our work involves building and repairing cell towers. It has been incredibly rewarding, as we have managed to help a lot of businesses all across the Midwest find better talent. Over the last three or four years we have seen people go from entry level positions to team leaders, earning six figures, which is amazing.”

This dedication to upward mobility and continued learning is an important part of QLM as a whole. The company’s solar panel division works equally hard to offer people major opportunities, as Mel highlights: “We work with clients in the solar industry to provide them with the right highly-skilled people for the job. To find the right workers, we sort through a large pool of individuals, and our logistics team ensures they are in the right place at the right time. All of this is done with the aim of satisfying our client and giving people great opportunities.”

Innovative, people-centric programs such as these characterize QLM’s working culture. The company is dedicated to its people, as Mark asserts: “I preach a lot about the four F’s: Faith, Fitness, Family and Finance.

Finance is last on purpose, because, although we spend the most time working, it should never overshadow faith. We don’t have to share one faith, or even the same idea of what it is, but there needs to be that drive and determination to serve a community of people, whoever they are. It’s a critical part of our culture as a company.”

Using its wealth of connections across a range of industries, QLM works to bring about new opportunities for disadvantaged

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and disenfranchised groups. Heading the company’s educational and outreach programs is QLM Area Representative Debbie Rodriguez.

“My main focus is training and education. I am currently in the process of building an LMS – which is a Learning Management System – for QLM. With this new system, our team members will be able to continue their education whilst working. They can learn things like coding, and other skill-based trades, and opportunities will start to open up once they have passed a couple of modules. My vision is to continue along the path that we are on, focusing on developing the skills of our people.

“I also manage iBuild, which is a non-profit I started in 2015. As an entity, we collaborate between the education system and the construction industry, in order to get more people working with us. We also want to fix the stigma that comes with the construction industry, and get more people to see the potential in what we do.

“Within iBuild we also focus on getting people in the prison system an education,

so that when they come out they have an opportunity within our industry, at a higher wage. We also work with people who have high-level disabilities, a couple of young men with autism, for example, work for us and they are model employees. We also support women and people coming in from foreign countries. A lot of that diversity is reflected within QLM, we have a large Hispanic population in our workforce, and a high percentage of female employees.”

Despite being a large and diverse operation, the entirety of QLM is guided by one core mission: to be a seamless extension of its clients’ operations, and to provide worldclass customer service. “I wrote that mission statement for QLM back in 1994, and it’s still the same one we have today. Our aim is to provide people with world-class customer service. We really focus on how we can provide a seamless service to our team members as well as the companies we partner with,” enthuses Mark.

With its fresh, community-driven approach

to human resources, QLM has seen enduring success. Over the next year, and onward, the company is looking forward to continued expansion, and exciting technological developments. “Our core focus for 2022 is a major technology overhaul, which will make it easier for us to gain efficiencies, and create a streamlined onboarding experience for our team members. We pride ourselves on being able to identify the right team member for the right position, and these developments will help support that capability,” says Fred.

“We continuously focus on improving our systems , so that the company can grow at a more rapid pace. We are moving very quickly, and so we have implemented a new timekeeping system for on the job; it increases our team’s ability to get information to and from the customer, so they can track jobs, in terms of cost and progress, better than they have in the past. It’s something that not many people have out there, so it’s definitely going to be a game changer in the future,” Mark concludes.

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Helmkamp Construction

Built to last As a full-service general contractor, Helmkamp Construction is known for providing reliable services with the customer in mind

S Founder, Gilbert Helmkamp

Helmkamp Construction www.helmkamp.com Services: General contractor

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ince 1938, Helmkamp Construction (Helmkamp) has provided reliable, high-quality general construction services to customers in the industrial and life sciences sectors. Based in St. Louis, the company is known for its ability to think ahead, and foster strong, long-lasting relationships with its customers.

Today, the company continues to thrive, with an ever-expanding workforce, and exciting opportunities on the horizon.

“Helmkamp is based in St. Louis, but it is a national operation that offers services throughout the country. We primarily work for clients in the industrial building and life sciences sectors, seeking out long-

term relationships with repeat buyers of professional construction services,” introduces Rob Johnes, President and Owner of Helmkamp Construction.

“Helmkamp was founded in 1938, as a family-run operation. I actually started with the company as an intern about 25 years ago, and worked my way up until I was in a position to acquire it from the founding family. I purchased Helmkamp from the third generation of that family in 2018, and have run it ever since.”

Offering a range of services has helped Helmkamp earn its reputation for providing reliable, transparent construction support. As Rob discusses: “One thing that differentiates

Recent Building project: School of Government at Principial College

Above: Historic renovation of the McVay Center for the Performing Arts Below: Office building for BJC Medical Group

“Our suppliers understand how important it is to deliver effectively and on-time, which is vital for us, as a lot of our customers are in critical infrastructure sectors such as refineries, power plants, pharmaceuticals and healthcare” the company from its competition is its in-house capabilities. While a lot of other contractors have moved more into management roles, subcontracting out most of their work, we have a lot of skilled professionals in the business, which makes it easier to self-perform when necessary.

“We are all trained to work effectively within an industrial environment. That means my team is used to working with heavy foundations, civil work, structural steel and a variety of equipment installation.

“Our independent capabilities allow us to be much more flexible than other contractors.

We can help manage budgets and project timelines far easier due to the fact that we

don’t need to find subcontractors for a lot of the work. This has helped us build really strong, long standing relationships with customers.

“Some of our partnerships go back nearly 40 years. We are always looking at the long term with our customers, trying to get them the best outcome for their project, regardless of whether or not that means we are leading it. We look at overall objectives and then provide the best solution and delivery to clients; we don’t insist on selling our services unless we think they are the best fit for the job, and I think that makes Helmkamp quite unique.”

Driven by a desire to support customers

above all else, Helmkamp seeks to provide budget-friendly, transparent advice on all of its projects. This became especially important during one particular job, as Rob reveals: “One of our most memorable projects was with a long-term client in the education sector. They had some issues in the campus auditorium, which meant that they had to replace the air handlers.

“The original solution that had been presented to them was building an addition onto the building to house the air handlers.

At that point we intervened and offered an alternative; we told the client not to make the extension, but instead house the handlers back in the attic area.

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Helmkamp Construction

Above: President Rob Johnes (front) with the team in front of the HCC Office

“We worked in a support role, helping a mechanical contractor manage the acoustics in the auditorium attic. We took on this role because it was the best way for us to support the customer, and save them potentially millions of dollars.

“We oversaw the addition of various acoustic and structural modifications in the attic, in order to resolve the issue our customer was having. When the project completed, there had been no need for an addition to the building, and the air handlers achieved the desired acoustics from the attic. We helped manage climate control in the area without interfering with the sound movement throughout the auditorium, which was the original project goal, and we did all of this with only a third of the labor it would have taken to move the handlers and build a new space.”

None of this would have been possible without Helmkamp’s highly skilled team of project managers. “The company is made up of a lot of incredibly talented individuals. We have a lot of project managers on our team,

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many of whom started as interns, like myself, and worked their way up. This means that they all have strong relationships with clients that have been fostered over ten, 20 years.

“As I mentioned, we always look at a client’s needs in the long term, which means we often offer people a different perspective to contractors who only consider the individual project. We don’t do any public or open market work, so we don’t have a ‘one and done’ mentality on any of our projects. Our first project is usually the beginning of a longlasting relationship, and so it’s quite rare that we do one-off work,” Rob affirms.

The same sense of loyalty is behind many of Helmkamp’s partnerships with its suppliers.

“We have long term relationships with many of our subcontractors and suppliers, and we always strive to treat them fairly, the same way we do with our customers. We look for partners on the basis of performance, rather than price, and that way we have teamed up with a lot of really reliable businesses.

“Our suppliers understand how important it is to deliver effectively and on-time, which

is vital for us, as a lot of our customers are in critical infrastructure sectors such as refineries, power plants, pharmaceuticals and healthcare. Many of our supplier relationships are as long standing as the company itself, which should tell you something about how well we all work together,” Rob confirms.

It is clear that building strong working relationships, with customers and suppliers alike, has ensured Helmkamp’s enduring success. These connections became even more important in the face of a global pandemic, as Rob details: “The start of the pandemic was definitely an interesting time.

We came through it better than I thought we would, really. We focused on working closely with customers to get the work done that was critical to their operation. It became a lot easier when official restrictions and guidelines came out, because we then had something to work with in terms of safety.

“From then on we continued working with the projects that were still viable. We worked with a number of healthcare clients to create new spaces and facilities that made

social distancing and isolation a lot easier.

We also build physical barriers for customers running open spaces, again to make the environment more Covid-friendly. In the end I think we continued to do well because we communicated effectively with clients the whole way through.”

Having endured the pandemic and its after-effects, Helmkamp now looks forward to a busy year in 2022. The company has continued to grow in the face of adversity, and is now looking to expand its team even further, as Rob states: “Right now we are very busy, the company is growing and we are looking to hire new folks soon.

“Finding the right people can be challenging, but we have had success recruiting people out of college into our internship scheme. 2022 will be about continual recruitment, so we can expand our team to match the success of the business.

On top of that, we have plenty of jobs lined up and it’s looking to be a busy year.”

Investing in the potential of young people is just one way that Helmkamp ensures its longevity as a successful general contractor. The company will also be looking into new market segments, and developing its team of specialist project managers, in the coming years.

“In three to five years, we will be really trying to develop some of those young folks, who have been in the company a good ten

years at this point. We want to build out our management base, and start training people as specialists in certain key areas. This is to help Helmkamp grow into multiple divisions over time.

“I anticipate that the company will continue to grow at a steady pace, as it remains focussed on quality, and long-term relationships with clients. By investing in our people, we will hopefully be in a really good place to expand our customer base, and take on some new markets,” Rob concludes.

Bommarito Construction Bommarito Construction, as a site preparation construction company, has been serving the greater St. Louis area since 1997 and, over the last 25 years, has had the privilege of working with Helmkamp on a variety of projects. Most recently, the projects with Helmkamp have required a heightened level of collaboration due to intricate job complexities coupled with meticulous owner oversight. However, no matter how challenging a job, working with Helmkamp is always rewarding because the entire team at Helmkamp truly views each project as a partnership and values the expertise and experience of its subcontractors, like Bommarito Construction.

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Quasius

Staying one step ahead

Quasius www.Quasius.com Services: Commercial and Industrial construction

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Below

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Quasius

Multi-generational, familyowned construction company, Quasius Construction, continues to see success as it takes on new challenges in the multi-family and commercial building market

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or over 130 years, Quasius

has provided forward-thinking construction solutions to customers in the commercial and industrial industries. Quasius, which has been family-owned and operated since inception, is a strategic partner that works hard to manage project supply, budget and schedule parameters from conception to project completion. Having overcome traditional challenges over the past few years, Quasius is now expanding its team, and taking on exciting new multi-family, commercial and industrial projects.

Since being founded in 1891 Quasius has come a long way, as the company’s President, Matt Quasius, reveals: “The company was

founded by my great-grandfather 131 years ago. He started as a residential contractor with a horse named Daisy, and a foot-powered saw.” During that time the company has evolved tremendously, but it has always remained focused on building relationships.

Matt shares: “That has been my family’s core value; collaborating with customers and our industry partners, developing long-term, mutually beneficial relationships, is the foundation of Quasius.

“Going forward, we will continue as a strategic industry partner to numerous new and existing customers. While the company’s focus has historically been in manufacturing and industrial warehouse space, Quasius also works in a number of other industries,

including multi-family housing, commercial construction, and educational buildings.”

Over the course of four generations, Quasius has developed a depth of industry knowledge that makes it a valuable partner to customers across a range of different sectors. “Today, we primarily do design-build work, which means we are collaborating with customers during the early stages of planning and conceptualizing. We like to help customers make smart decisions early in the design process, so that they may benefit from value engineered design requirements, which focus on building needs and materials.

This also helps us establish the correct budget and schedule, which are the main variables that we manage, beyond quality and design.

“Our model allows us to work across a number of different markets, with different customers. The labor market is extremely tight, so our clients often have other responsibilities that they are working on simultaneous to focusing on their construction project. They rely on Quasius to help them with planning, scheduling and site management, so that they can focus on doing what they need to do to run their business,” states Matt.

Forward-thinking is an integral part of the way Quasius works. “The biggest secret to our success is the ability to have a very long-term perspective on projects, and put the client’s interests first. We focus on building long-term relationships with our customers, and we consider all of them to be long-term partners of the company.

“If that means coming up with designs and ideas in advance of when the client needs to break ground, we do that. Our ability to look ahead has garnered a lot of respect within the industry, because it highlights to customers how we are looking out for them and their long-term needs.”

Treating each and every customer as a valued partner is part of Quasius’ ethos as a family-owned and operated company. “Being a multi-generational family-run company has definitely been an advantage,” confirms Matt.

“That has influenced our working culture for the better; we focus a lot on our core values both internally and externally.

“Our core values are that we treat everyone with respect, and we are a family, so we look out for each other. Being a family also allows us to recognize when someone else needs support, and holding one another accountable when necessary. We love coming together to solve problems, which is especially useful in the construction industry, where nothing ever goes 100 percent according to plan. It’s about

how you respond when a situation arises, and you need to pivot.

“We also share the value and profit that Quasius generates. We are in business to generate revenue, but we also want to help our customers make money for themselves; I think that understanding is what makes us a strong strategic partner, as we take the approach that, everyone will come out winning,” he continues.

Working together as a family also helped Quasius weather the storm of Covid-19, and the supply chain issues that followed in its wake, as Matt discusses: “There have been numerous challenges to overcome in the last few years, and absent our core values we may not have come out as well. At Quasius, we are a team that supports one another, and that means we are really focused on communication and being proactive.

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Quasius

“Our ability to problem solve in collaboration with our employees and industry partners makes us nimble and solution-oriented. Most of our customers were very understanding because they were facing many of the same challenges in their own businesses; in the end it was about working together to minimize the impact on schedule and cost.

“I am very proud of my team and their ability to prosper through difficult times. Especially in early 2020, when there was a lot of uncertainty about whether we were going to be able to get our construction projects off the ground. The way our people responded was incredible.”

As restrictions and shortages begin to ease, Quasius continues to thrive. Having taken on a number of exciting new projects, the company prepares for a strong year in 2022. “This year is forecasted to be an exciting one for Quasius. We have a couple of projects coming up in the food industry, including additions to two cheese production plants. We are also working on a couple of multi-family home projects, which we will be breaking ground on shortly. Finally, we have a townhouse project and several industrial

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projects coming up later in the year, so we are quite busy,” enthuses Matt.

In the long-term, Quasius will expand its team in order to match the company’s organic growth, as Matt details: “We anticipate needing to grow our team in the near future with additional project managers, field personal and a marketing coordinator this year. In order to facilitate the growth we are expecting, we need more people on board.”

As the construction industry gains momentum, Quasius establishes itself as a reliable, forward-thinking, and experienced partner for customers throughout the Midwest. As Matt concludes: “In our particular area the market is very strong, especially on the manufacturing and industrial side.

“There are normal challenges that impact lead times and material shortages, but that really just enhances the benefits Quasius provides by partnering early in a project. We identify those longer lead time items, get them ordered early and accelerate construction schedules, while minimizing the effect of lead times on the supply chain.”

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H&M Development

Bolstering a family vision

With a father and son at the helm, H&M Development is offering holistic construction services to a wider family of clients and customers

H&M Development www.hmdevelopment.net https://hm.builders/ Services: Construction and building services

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he mission statement underpinning US construction firm H&M Development is quite clear: develop high-quality and timeefficient projects while maintaining strong communicative relationships with a wide network of partners, customers, and vendors.

Across its team of skilled civil engineers, the full-service construction and development company has more than 60 years of combined experience in everything related to commercial, retail, and industrial construction.

At the center of that team is a father-son relationship built on trust, integrity, and a hardy commitment to the structural, aesthetic, and financial needs of customers.

Yet, the family roots go deeper. In the 1950s, the family patriarch, Herbert Dornbusch, founded a Colombian construction company called Dorco. To cut a prosperous history short, the venture was a success. Over 40 million-square-feet of built commercial and residential property later, it was time to bring that vision to the US. The father-son team of Harry and Joey Dornbusch rose to the challenge and thus began H&M Development.

Proud of the company’s familial ties, H&M Development is proud to call its clients and partners part of the wider family. In turn, the company takes its values of reliability, efficiency, and honesty incredibly seriously.

The magnitude of work carried out by

H&M Development, which includes general contracting, shell (or structural) contracting, and real estate development, has earned it a strong reputation. With competitive construction budgets, consistently on-time projects, and an open-minded philosophy to change, the company has become a trusted partner for its dynamic building services.

More recently, H&M Development has been investing in and buying up commercial vacant land to develop self-storage facilities.

“The model has been syndicating our projects with equity partners, who are specifically investing in these types of developments,” says Harry Dornbusch, President at H&M Development. “For us, the actual location of

these projects is central. The right concept must be designed for each specific location and its accompanying market. By doing our due diligence, every venture ends up with the right type of project, design, and unit mix to satisfy a precise market. We really excel in this phase of development and always match the quality of engineering required to create an optimal and efficient design.”

When speaking with Harry, you quickly get a sense that he knows what he’s talking about. Indeed, an active and valued member of the Florida real estate community for over a quarter of a century, he has led the construction and development of more than ten million-square-feet of property – across

three countries, no less. That portfolio of work finds its origins in a comprehensive education.

First earning a civil engineering degree from the Georgia Institute of Technology, Harry later studied at the University of California at Berkeley, attaining a master’s degree in the same discipline. Since then, a multitude of schools, offices, pharmacies, retail stores, and restaurants have been erected in the US, Colombia, and Venezuela with his company’s unique engineering imprint upon them.

More specifically, the projects include Fisher Island Day School, Total Wine Spirits, Palmetto Center, Stirling Business Center, CVS Pharmacies, Whispering Woods Center, Hallandale Plaza, West Winds of Boca, and the

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H&M Development

Beacon Tower of Aventura. By looking more closely, a greater appreciation for the size and scale of H&M Development’s projects can be achieved. For the Beacon Tower of Aventura, the company website details the following: ‘With this latest project, H&M Development has entered the realm of midrise office towers in a local economy where Class A office space is limited. This 12-story post-tensioned building was designed and constructed in conjunction with professionals pursuing the most cost-effective results, while maintaining the quality and elegance of its elements. We are proud to create an impact on the local area by developing its surroundings and raising the value of its communities.’

In addition to domestic projects, Harry currently runs Matelfer C.A., a leading construction supply distributor in Venezuela, which he also founded. But in the US, projects keep on coming. “We are, for instance, currently building a shopping center in Davie, Florida,” Harry explains. “Accompanying that, we are also starting a multifamily retail project with more than 90 units in the nearby city of Hallandale Beach. That’s not to say that everything has gone entirely smoothly.

We had to interrupt some projects that were adversely affected by Covid-19, including the development of an assisted living facility which was temporarily put on hold until the

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situation could be better modelled. This is key to being competitive and finishing projects to set schedules. You must be flexible, keep an unbiased perspective, and evaluate situations wisely. Of course, the relationship between suppliers and subcontractors is the foundation of a good general contractor and developer – and I’m proud to say we have that.”

As a general contractor, H&M Development offers what it likes to describe as a holistic approach to building work. Preliminary design consultation, pre-construction services, value engineering, and a first-class result – all of this is included in the company’s tried and tested commercial process. To maintain high standards, H&M Development mandates continual training and education for its staff. “Our company is really about the people and teams that work within it,” says Harry. “The concept and culture of teamwork is the basis for our success. As a result of training and continuous growth in terms of subject specific knowledge, H&M Development completes all projects according to current building codes and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations.”

This dedication to staff development is part of the business’ wider acknowledgement of the contribution that its employees make

to its success. Harry highlights two members of staff who have played particularly pivotal roles: “Our General Manager, Simona Muresan, has been with us for nine years and she has been crucial in the development of H&M as a group,” he says. “She is extremely important to the business and has touched on every area, but especially management and administration.”

An expert in domestic and foreign accounting, auditing, and customer coordination, Simona graduated at the top of her class with a Master’s in Finances and Financial Strategies of Companies from the West University of Timisoara, in Romania.

She is proficient in five languages — Romanian, English, French, Spanish and Italian — and was a silver medallist at both the 1997 and 2003 Romanian National Chess Tournaments. Her previous eight years’ experience in international economics and management have proved incredibly valuable to H&M Development.

Harry also highlights the efforts of Elaine Balta, who is in charge of book keeping and other administrative tasks, and who he describes as ‘playing an important role’ in the place H&M Development holds in the market.

The hard work and efforts of Simona, Elaine and the entire team at H&M Development is what enables the business

to work competitively and pride itself on meeting the scheduling and budgeting requirements for every project. That’s particularly important for longer term projects like shell contracting services. ‘As shell contractors, we strive to provide the highest quality tilt-up, concrete, masonry, and carpentry services,’ the company website states. ‘Through open communication and close business relationships with suppliers, H&M Development delivers high-quality components that fit the needs and budget of our clients.’

When reminded of the plethora of shell construction services carried out by H&M Development, including demolition, masonry, cast-in-place concrete, flooring, carpentry, flatwork, and pre-cast, pre-stressed and posttensioned concrete construction, the task of coming in on time and budget becomes ever more impressive. It is because of this wide range of services, as well as the company’s knowledge and skill, that H&M Development can build solid foundations and fortified relationships with all its customers. The team behind the impressive structures, currently

standing tall in the south-east region of the US, remain incredibly proud of this fact.

Looking towards the immediate future, H&M Development is happy to keep doing what it quite evidently does best. “Our financial and equity requirements have been evolving and improving in a very efficient and successful fashion,” says Harry, highlighting the promising future of the company which

he so proudly leads. “These next five years will be a time of further growth, especially in terms of self-storage construction and within the multifamily sector. Our continued success allows us to expand, optimize, and consolidate. That way, we can keep on doing what we are doing now for years to come – all at the standard which has come to be expected of us.”

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RCC Associates

Keeping legacies

alive

By putting family first, RCC Associates shows that general contracting can still be a personal affair RCC Associates www.rccassociates.com Services: National general contractor (US)

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rom Hawaii to Puerto Rico, RCC Associates (RCC) is known for delivering exemplary construction services across 33 US states.

Founded in 1971 by Richard Raphael, the South Florida-based national general contractor was born out of what we might call a void since a discernible lack of highquality general contractors, coupled with a burgeoning market demand, led to its promising inception.

Fast forward 51 years and RCC Associates is still filling that void. Trusted with full-scale

national roll-outs, the company proves that it can keep meeting an ever-growing demand for immaculate attention to detail and superior finishing services.

Originally striving to become the premier interior build out specialist within the local proximity, the goals and business aspirations of RCC Associates have somewhat shifted.

Following continued success and nationwide expansion, the company is now widely regarded as a leader in general contracting across the US for a diverse range of construction services. One glance at the varied

portfolio of projects completed in recent years attests to this: restaurants, hotels, high-end retail, fitness studios and specialty entertainment venues – all this falls under RCC Associates’ impressive work remit.

RCC Associates attributes its success to robust, long-term relationships with instantly recognizable clients including The Cheesecake Factory, Zuma, Shake Shack, Del Frisco’s Grille, Givenchy, Balenciaga, the Ritz Carlton, and many others. From these, RCC Associates happily leaves itself open to waves of further referrals following the delivery of

first-rate and consistently on-time services.

In turn, the company is creating more exciting opportunities for working with new clients on interior buildouts, luxury retail, mid-size ground-up construction, and brilliant historic renovations, all of which are designed to maximize customer value. Indeed, at least 90 percent of projects completed by RCC Associates are for repeat clients.

The positive feedback loop, built by these foundational relationships, continues. With now over 100 employees, RCC Associates has built a strong reputation for providing

excellent satisfaction rates, both internally and externally. Quick to corroborate this statement is Rick Rhodes, Executive Vice President at RCC Associates, who began working for the company in 1983.

“I worked alongside Richard for 15 years, admiring the way he took care of his employees and his hands-on approach with customers,” Rick explains. “He unfortunately passed away from cancer at the young age of 53 in 1998. His wife Beverly jumped in and took the reins, asking me to join her as partner in the company. She brought with

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RCC Associates

her the determination and commitment that employees and clients needed at that time to overcome this tragic loss and build confidence in the future of the company. Since then, we’ve worked together in a very balanced and successful partnership for 24 years, growing the company from $17 million to over $100 million throughout that time.”

Overcoming adversity, then, forms a crucial part of the company’s history. But so, too, does family. Excluding company-client relations, familial relationships underpin the entire operation. “Over the past 20 years, Beverly’s daughter, Robyn Raphael Dynan, has diligently worked her way up the ranks, through multiple positions within the firm, eventually earning her current role as President of the company,” observes Rick. “As President, she manages approximately 110 employees (roughly 65 in the office and 45 in the field). At any given time, she oversees as many as 40 projects. She has followed in her mother’s footsteps, playing a significant role in RCC consistently attaining its status as the #1 Woman Owned Business ranked by revenue.

The company has always been a familyowned business and, I’m proud to say, she has undoubtedly kept her father’s legacy alive.”

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That legacy continues, imprinting itself upon iconic storefronts, dining venues, and more across the US. RCC Associates, by virtue of its business philosophy, welcomes familiar and well-loved brands into its evolving family. “We are known for our repeat clients, especially in the hospitality industry. We have, for instance, built more than 600 restaurants to date. Our wide range of notable clients and projects include: Time Out Market, Del Frisco’s Grille, Uncle Julio’s, the Delray Beach Market, MILA, Harry Winston, Givenchy, COTE Korean Steakhouse, iPic Theatres, Story Nightclub,

Barry’s Bootcamp, as well as numerous hotel renovations like the PGA National Resort & Spa and the forthcoming update to the iconic Mayfair Hotel in Miami. All of these examples testify to RCC’s expertise. We are especially proud of our long-term clients like The Cheesecake Factory for whom we have been working with for nearly 30 years and continue to do so on its recently acquired concepts like North Italia. Building over 90 projects for just one client is simply unheard of in the construction industry.”

Yet that name, RCC Associates, has certainly been heard. New projects and exciting opportunities keep cropping up, and the stakes are only getting bigger. As Rick attests: “COTE Korean Steakhouse, located in the Miami Design District, is 5892-squarefeet and emulates its flagship, high-energy, Michelin-starred New York City-based locale synonymous with marrying the fun and fire of Korean barbeque with the hallmarks of a classic, regal American steakhouse.

“Delray Beach Market, moreover, is 150,000-square-foot, four stories tall, and is filled with 27 local and regional eateries, making it the largest food hall in Florida,” he continues. “We completed this exciting large-

Below, L to R: Beverly Raphael Altman, CEO, Rick Rhodes, Executive Vice President, and Robyn Raphael Dynan, President scale project for Menin Development, who hired us again to complete the new Ember Grill restaurant at the Ray Hotel. Another recent development is with MILA, one of the most sought-after restaurants in Miami. With its expansive rooftop terrace and intricate, organic design features, MILA was uniquely envisioned by founders Gregory and Marine Galy, and has since been brought to life by the RCC team. Working with prominent designer Olya Volkova, RCC implemented materials like reclaimed woods, unpolished floors, untainted stones, and handmade linen and cotton fabrics, thus creating a serene yet luxurious setting.”

As is the nature of business, not all is plain sailing. Especially when hit with an unprecedented global pandemic. But, as we have seen, this was not RCC Associates’ first meeting with adversity. “We have learned to be adaptable and proactive,” Rick explains.

“Our employees were incredibly willing and able to do whatever it took to keep things moving and get the job done. The culture of our company is what has led to the longevity of our employees. We have 26 people who have been with the company for over ten years and ten people who have been with us for 20 years or longer. Many of the leaders in our company began their careers in entrylevel positions, including our VP of Project Management, Donna Robbins, who started out as our receptionist. We are a family-owned company with a hands-on ownership model that truly cares about the happiness of our employees and clients.

“As a team, we learn to adapt, and we keep moving, because construction is always changing. It doesn’t give up. It’s an industry where you can never know or learn enough. I think one thing that we have learned through the pandemic and other economic slowdowns is that – no matter what – people will always want to visit restaurants. The hospitality industry is thriving and is focused on creating experiences. We are seeing a lot of elaborate outdoor dining spaces and consequently we are installing many air quality HVAC systems to keep patrons safe and feeling comfortable. We are fortunate to have clients that are continually building and expanding.

Reputation is everything in this business.

Robyn, our President, is constantly looking for ways to improve systems or enhance communication with clients, office staff and on-site workers. There isn’t a process implemented at RCC today that Robyn hasn’t created, experienced, or altered to make more efficient. RCC has the infrastructure,

processes, and reputation to grow the company in a way that is both deliberate and measured to guarantee the same quality of work and integrity that our clients expect.

We are continually investing in the business, hiring talented and qualified people, and always working to improve every aspect of our business.”

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US Framing

A better way to

frame

US Framing https://usframing.com/ Services: Multi-wood framing experts

With over two decades worth of experience in large timber frame construction, US Framing provides unparalleled services to contractors on a range of structures, from multifamily homes to assisted living facilities 88 WWW.CONSTRUCTION-TODAY.COM

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ffering a comprehensive range of services, from wood framing to hardware installation to house wrap, has helped US Framing become a strategic partner to dozens of construction company’s across America. The company offers expertise in a

“US Framing designs its processes around the sitespecific requirements of each project, using more than 40 years’ worth of accumulated knowledge.

Using its specialist abilities in wooden, cross laminated timber, metal stud and industrial framing, US Framing will then advise on the most effective materials and layout for the project’s internal structure. These decisions are made by carefully evaluating safety, longevity, reliability and ease of maintenance”

range of applications in the modelling, preconstruction, and construction phases of a project, priding itself on accuracy, quality and timeliness. Today, US Framing has completed over 10,000 units worth of wood-beam construction, and it looks forward to further large-scale projects in the near future.

As an industry-leading Type III framer, US Framing works in several major categories: multifamily projects, assisted living facilities, student housing, hotels, takeovers, and high-end estate homes. The company offers a variety of services, from framing labor to complete turnkey packages, including

lumber, structural steel, trusses and stairs.

As a national operation, US Framing offers it services to any major project, in any region of the US. Multifamily homebuilding is the primary focus of US Framing’s work. The company has completed more multifamily units than any other wood framing contractor group in the US, and has a vast depth of experience in division 6100 rough carpentry. With a portfolio full of two, three and four-story projects, US Framing is capable of managing a structure of any size, shape or complexity.

Boasting an incredible understanding of its market, US Framing has expert capabilities in the framing of connecting walls, low-rise duplexes, and high-rise apartment complexes in a range of densities and heights. The company has specifically trained its team in the management of these kinds of structures, in response to industry trends

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US Framing

that show the rising popularity of larger, shared spaces.

As an expert in the field, US Framing actually offers a more aesthetically pleasing and easier to maintain alternative to industry standard framing. Using timber beams, the company can create a variety of structures with integrity. The wooden frames are not only more reliable, but they offer higher levels of thermal resistivity, meaning that the building is less likely to be affected by cold weather conditions. It is more energy efficient than masonry and steel during and post

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construction, thanks to the cellular structure of wood as opposed to metal. Holding pockets of warm air inside of it means that the finished structure will have an overall higher level of insulation.

Further, the use of wooden beams makes US Framing the green alternative. As a renewable material, wood releases less greenhouse gas than concrete and steel, and it also requires less energy to extract, manufacture and transport. US Framing is an industry leader in timber framing, making it the ideal choice for environmentally conscious builders.

The company’s depth of knowledge also makes it a strategic long-term partner for construction companies in the multi-family or high-end housing market. The working culture at US Framing prioritizes customer satisfaction, and seeks to form lasting relationships with contractors through reliable, on-time service.

Thanks to its years of experience in largescale construction, US Framing is able to offer its services to any project, at any point in its lifecycle. The company regularly partners with builders and contractors as early as the pre-construction stage, wherein its expert team can provide support in planning and designing, as well as sourcing materials.

With its designated pre-construction team, US Framing guides customers through important decisions regarding foundation planning and design, materials, budget, schedule and even risk assessment.

These highly-skilled teams are effective in supporting projects through the preconstruction phase, ensuring a far smoother overall build. Furthermore, they are dedicated to meeting the client’s needs, listening to their opinions and working collaboratively to achieve the goals of a project.

These assets are the reason that US Framing is such an important and strategic partner for builders looking to work with wooden framing. Its services are broken down into two sections: pre-design and start-up. To begin with, the pre-design team will build a digital version of the project building, so that clients can get a good idea of what the end result will be. The startup phase then involves making in-depth, collaborative changes to the design, until it meets the needs of the client perfectly.

Builders can continue to rely on US Framing as a trusted partner throughout the construction process. US Framing designs its processes around the sitespecific requirements of each project, using more than 40 years’ worth of accumulated knowledge.

Using its specialist abilities in wooden, cross laminated timber, metal stud and industrial framing, US Framing will then advise on the most effective materials and layout for the project’s internal structure.

These decisions are made by carefully evaluating safety, longevity, reliability and ease of maintenance.

The company then provides framing laborers to erect the structure, following a strict plan that considers fire resistance, thermal insulation, and noise insulation as

important variables. These decisions are supported by US Framing’s additional 3D modelling capability.

US Framing is leading the way in Building Information Modelling (BIM) for wood framing applications. The company is now capable of managing and controlling customer projects through new and innovative technologies that include the design and framing process.

This new software allows US Framing to work together with customers to get architectural designs right the first time around. With practical applications in the pre-construction and co-ordination phases of a project, US Framing’s 3D modelling software adds a new innovative layer to its already comprehensive offering.

These developments highlight just how forward-thinking US Framing is as an operation. Providing builders with a more sustainable, technologically advanced alternative, will no doubt continue to spell success for the company, as it leads the wood framing industry into the future.

National Lumber Turnkey Framing National Lumber Turnkey Framing provides key structural components for large multi-family wood framed projects, working with US Framing and General Contractors across the United States. Only one team to supply and frame roof and floor trusses, wood wall panels, and all the other lumber and building materials to erect your structure. Plus, the team provides value engineering, efficient framing techniques, and coordinates with trades to keep the project running smoothly. The proof of its effectiveness is seen in the numbers of repeat customers. Once a builder works with National Lumber Turnkey Framing, they have continued to use its services to estimate and plan their next projects.

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Hensel Phelps

Building a legacy Since 1937, Hensel Phelps has explored new markets and partnerships, invested in hard-working individuals, and grown into a world-class builder

Hensel Phelps www.henselphelps.com Services: General construction

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ased in Colorado, Hensel Phelps is renowned for its reliable, dedicated and comprehensive service. The company has 85 years’ worth of experience in the construction industry, and uses its unparalleled depth of knowledge to service communities, and forge new opportunities,

across northern America. Continuing its long legacy, through incredible landmarks and the integrity of its ever-growing team, Hensel Phelps looks forward to major projects, and continued expansion, in 2022.

Since last being featured in Construction Today, Hensel Phelps has reached new heights and achieved some major milestones.

Photo courtesy of Goettsch Partners

As Derek Hoffine, Vice President and District Manager for Hensel Phelps’ Plains District, discusses: “Over the last five years the company has experienced major growth, especially in terms of the size of our team.

We currently have about 430 people in the district, which is a considerable step up.

“In addition, I have taken over as Vice

President and District Manager in the Plains District. We’re so proud of how far Hensel Phelps has come; we were turning over about $3.5 billion in 2017, and that’s now up to about $6 billion.

“A big focal point for the company now is our Diversity, Equality, Inclusion and Community (DEIc) initiative, which gives

employees the opportunity to really speak their mind, and establish stronger connections throughout the business. It has also helped us foster a stronger sense of diversity, which is of course important to everyone.

“Finally, we have been building our ongoing working relationship with Denver

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Hensel Phelps

International Airport. The company has completed phase one of the Great Hall on that site, and we are going to continue working there on a number of other projects for the next six years.”

Today, the company’s footprint extends

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from its corporate base in Greeley, Colorado, down to Denver, with its district office in Thornton, Colorado. Much of its work is in the Denver Metro area, and the Front Range, with clients in Utah, Idaho, Montana and Wyoming as well. “Our focus for this region is predominantly in the downtown Denver and Front Range area. My predecessor, Allan, was a relevant figure in those areas and the business has become quite prominent there over the past five years, thanks to his influence. We are a local business, and it’s important that we operate near where our folks live, so that we can build a community presence,” Derek affirms.

“Denver is currently an expanding city, with lots of potential for growth. There are a lot of people moving here from all over the country, and with that we have been seeing an uptick in construction activity, especially in the federal and private sectors. The company has been doing very well serving these industries, despite the challenges brought on by Covid-19.

“It was a very challenging time for all of

Photo courtesy of Denver International Airport (DEN)

us during the pandemic, but it definitely made the company stronger. We honed our communication skills, so that we could really listen to clients and understand their needs, and we also became more focused on transparency. When you’re operating under uncertain conditions, it’s important to keep everyone updated when things change.

Having that transparency, and building that trust with new clients, has made us a lot stronger in the region today,” he elaborates.

The effects of the pandemic were well managed by Hensel Phelps, as the company was quick to respond and learn in the face of adversity. “In my experience the construction industry is quite resilient. Despite the social and financial difficulties that Covid-19 caused, Hensel Phelps managed to pick things up and keep going fairly quickly. We were still working when a lot of people were not.

“The pandemic also had an effect on the way we worked. It made us really pay attention to hygiene in the workplace, which is something we continue to do. It became clear that keeping our shared tools and workplace clean actually helped maintain a happier and healthier workforce.

“We have also become more conscious of people’s mental health since the pandemic; there is a devastatingly high rate of suicide in the construction industry, and that is something Hensel Phelps, and a lot of our competitors, are looking to change for good.

“We now take a very active approach to mental health in the workplace. Construction can be stressful, it’s very physically demanding and can involve a lot of hard work.

To make sure our employees are thriving, we have implemented awareness, training and education programs that are designed to get people talking and looking out for one another,” Derek asserts.

Having continued to thrive despite the challenges of the past few years, Hensel Phelps now looks forward to an exciting future, as Derek reveals: “We broke ground on the 1900 Lawrence office building project last month [at time of writing]. It’s a major development and build, worth around $400 million, so we are really excited to get started on that. We also have three active sites in downtown Denver, which we are very proud of, as we get to be a part of growing and developing the community there.

“Throughout the rest of 2022, we will continue to grow and diversify our market sectors even further. We plan on expanding our presence in the Rocky Mountain region, because there’s tons of opportunity there.

Above: New Check-in lobbies on Level 6 on the west side of the Jeppesen Terminal With our history, and what we’ve been able to do in Denver, we already have a strong reputation in other parts of Colorado, so I’m

confident that the company will be able to grow organically into Rocky Mountain and beyond,” he concludes.

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Atlanta Flooring Design Centers Inc

Built to be

better

Atlanta Flooring Design Centers Inc https://atlantaflooringdesign.com/ Services: Flooring design and installation

With expertise for finely crafted flooring, and a heart for contemporary creativity, Atlanta Flooring Design Centers Inc is one of the best names in the industry

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rom dark and rich colors, to rugged and versatile tactile, Atlanta Flooring Design Centers Inc (Atlanta Flooring) is a leading commercial and residential flooring contractor in the Southeast. As today’s floor covering market becomes more competitive than ever, customers are developing even higher expectations, and Atlanta Flooring is determined to provide even greater accurate, on-time service. Its reputation with the most prominent national and regional builders helps it serve much of Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina,

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Alabama, Tennessee, Florida, and surrounding states.

Established by Donny Phillips in 1985 as Atlanta Carpet, the business was built on service and relationships. From its 1000-square-foot humble beginnings in downtown Duluth, Georgia, over the next few years, locations grew, as did the number of employees. The business also began expanding into commercial and single-family home sales.

In 1997, Frank Winter partnered with Donny Phillips. Frank, who now serves as the company’s Vice-President, brought a

wealth of technical and operational ideas that allowed the company to move forward beyond the Gwinnett County market. In 2007, the company now known as Atlanta Flooring Design Centers moved into its new corporate location in Suwanee, Georgia. Over the next several years, the space grew to include more retail showroom space, builder facilities and an office warehouse complex.

“Additionally, we added various builder selection centers in order to better serve our customers,” begins Company Founder and President Donny. “Atlanta Flooring expanded across the Carolinas, Alabama, and

most recently Florida, with additional retail locations in Chattanooga, Tennessee and Buford, Georgia.”

Now, the company has established itself a reputation for reliability and exquisite taste.

“Our professional installers are available seven days a week to complete the job correctly and on time. For projects that require special scheduling, we will work with you or your company to accommodate your project needs. With daily deliveries from our suppliers, we have the capability to ensure that your material is ordered and installed efficiently,”he shares.

The company’s sales and design staff stay on top of all the flooring trends, which allows the business to offer whatever fits the clients’ needs, while being driven by long-standing

moral values. These include listening to its customers’ needs, then professionally providing service and material at a great value.

“Honoring God and always treating others as we wish to be treated, is our mission statement. That includes our relationships with suppliers, by operating on mutual respect, we are able to evaluate product and work to assure the right application for the products is followed. Also, working with suppliers, we can better navigate through some of the uncertainties and challenges of the supply chains in today’s times.

“Our retail, custom builder, and commercial sales and design teams work with retail customers, facilities management, assisted living facilities, end users and architects to find products to meet their respective

needs and budgets. Our staff of onsite quality management professionals assure that projects go smoothly and problems are reported on the front end to avoid delays and report any concerns quickly,” he highlights.

Donny then goes on to discuss a few of the business’s specialisms. “At the moment, there is a return to favour laminates, which is a fascinating product development. The cycle of the flooring business to ‘race to the bottom’ has in many cases hurt categories that if a product has the right construction, it will perform well,” he says. According to Donny, the new generation of RevWood type products are the height of today’s trends and offer great value.

Keeping in tune with the topic of variety, Atlanta Flooring is also well-versed in

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Atlanta Flooring Design Centers Inc homebuyers will walk away from houses with a clutter of different flooring styles, especially if they’re all visible in the main areas, like the living room and halls.

On the technology front, Atlanta Flooring is working on projects to standardize its showroom pricing based on bar coding as well as inventory management and sales processes at its outlet. “We are also updating our online presence and working for greater exposure of stocking products for online sales. Multiple locations allow inventory and selections to be available to our national partners. Our footprint also opens up opportunities with its suppliers when they need a partner who can service national accounts in multiple areas,” Donny explains.

The company’s relationship with suppliers gives it opportunities to partner in the development, testing and purchasing of product. “The ability to be involved in the color and construction process early on the ways in which a home’s value can be improved through flooring renovations, with hardwood being one of the top contenders.

While not every room in your home needs hardwood flooring to improve in value, it does need to be consistent, as prospective

allows us the first look at the product.

The interaction with our customers is also very helpful in trying to identify voids in product offerings. Where we see an opportunity, we reach out to suppliers for ideas and opportunities.”

A further example of how Atlanta Flooring helps its customers is through a cabinet program that it has introduced with Cosmo Cabinets. The business recently expanded its cabinet inventory to better supply customers who had been struggling with supply issues and lack of availability. The commitment to inventory should pay huge dividends in this new opportunity.

On the people side, Donny shares that the business’s success rests 100 percent on its people. “If our culture does not promote a strong desire to serve our customers, suppliers and each other, we cannot be successful. Understanding the many outstanding traits that make up the company, we work to recognize the effort they invest into their work and try to be sure that each person is placed in a position to maximize their talents. A hire for one position may find opportunity in a different area and recognizing that is a challenge, but also an opportunity for growth,” he shares.

During the pandemic, this attitude towards a people-centric culture proved vital to ensure the longevity of the business. “We offered opportunities for at-home working and found some of the departments were able to thrive in this. Now, as we return to a new normal, some positions will have more flexibility moving forward, and, added to that,

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we found that the cash-and-carry business is an area we see strong growth in as customers have been spending more time at home.”

Now, looking towards the future, Donny is excited for what lies in store for 2022. “The economy is experiencing some changes that, in the long run, could have a negative impact on certain parts of the business, which is why, overall, we are looking at business areas, such as multi-family where we have not been actively involved, as well as looking at locations that make sense to explore so we can manage our growth in a reasonable way.”

Atlanta Flooring is in a solid position to move forward with promise and great potential. Despite the impressive 37 years behind it, the opportunity for another 37year run lies in smart growth and excellent relationships. Together with its employees, customers and suppliers, Donny is adamant that the company will make fantastic growth happen, and we look forward to catching up with the business in a few years’ time to see how this time enabled Atlanta Flooring to grow from strength-to-strength.

Cosmo Cabinets Cosmo Cabinets is a client-focused manufacturer, providing high quality products with maximum value. Its guiding principles are teamwork, collaboration and respect. These values apply to customer partnerships as well. Partners are valued and are an integral part of the product development process. As a growing company, Cosmo is agile and able to adapt to changes in the marketplace, respond to customer requests, and make innovations with end users in mind.

Cosmo Cabinets is a proud partner of Atlanta Flooring Design Center. Together, the companies have been able to execute on the strategic sourcing vision of the talented and accomplished Atlanta Flooring leadership team. Atlanta Flooring’s kitchen and bath program provides high value to the marketplace and demonstrates their commitment to providing customers with greater accurate, on-time service.

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Giroux Glass

Breaking the glass ceiling Giroux Glass’s competitive advantage is its people, who are dedicated and driven to see the company become a recognized expert in the construction industry

Giroux Glass https://girouxglass.com/ Services: Glaziers

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Below: The Grand Canyon Skywalk

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Giroux Glass

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Left: The award-winning Pendry Hotel, Hollywood iring the right people from a wide range of diverse backgrounds, and training and empowering them to succeed is the secret to Giroux Glass’ history of achievements. Opening the doors to companywide collaboration and encouraging all to join in has enabled the company to maximize its resources during the typical industry peaks and valleys. “Our belief in complete transparency demonstrates our integrity, as well as our trust in our employees. Offering services in the different glazing markets is a practice we’ve learned over the years, and has served us well through many economic changes,” says Nataline Lomedico, the company’s Chief Executive Officer and President. She shares details of her business’ inner workings, and the key elements that make Giroux Glass an industry pioneer.

The glass, glazing, and architectural metals contracting company operates branches in Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Fresno, Orange County, in California, as well as Las Vegas, Nevada, and Phoenix, Arizona.

Catering to the commercial, retail, and luxury residential sectors, and with over 75 years of experience, award-winning Giroux Glass continually challenges the boundaries of its capabilities. “We believe that the awards we receive reflect both sides of our business values: our dedication to quality and thoroughness, and a degree of risk-taking that pushes us to find creative solutions and propels us into the future of the industry,” Nataline expresses.

The awards mentioned include the USGlass Magazine Design Award from USGlass Design Magazine and the 2021 ‘Best Glass Interior’ award from Glass Magazine. Concerning the former, Giroux Glass applied both its deep-rooted expertise and creative problem-solving skills to revise plans for a new scientific greenhouse facility at UC Riverside. “Drawing on our first-hand knowledge of the unique Southern California climate and its implications for glass installations, our team recognized water intrusion issues in the project’s initial design.

For a research greenhouse requiring full climate control, this was an obvious issue.

“To correct these errors, our team got to work, going beyond our initial ‘labor only’ role to provide in-depth consultation on materials and construction methods.

Although this was not initially asked of us, we responded to the task at hand, and our insight and decisive action played a huge

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Below: Phillip J. Patino School of Entrepreneurship, Fresno role in making the project a success. We believe this was why we were honored by USGlass Magazine.

“The other award was given to us following completion of the Pendry Hotel. Here, our company exhibited fastidiousness and reliability via our organized, timely approach to sourcing and receiving thousands of custom pieces, as well as our extreme attention to detail when installing them.

We showcased innovation and creativity in the face of significant challenges, like when a change in plan on a complex mosaic mirror wall required our team to improvise a new arrangement that met both the aesthetic standards and physical dimensions of the wall, or when custom shower door components arrived stacked by size, instead of by installation location, requiring our team to quickly implement a new organizational system that got the components exactly where they needed to go across more than 140 hotel rooms. All of these approaches factored in to Glass Magazine’s decision to award us the 2021 ‘Best Glass Interior’ award,” Nataline explains.

Another impressive project that the business completed, which Nataline shares with us, concerned the Resorts World Complex, the first of its kind in ten years.

“Perseverance, extreme organization, adaptability, and hard work were integral to our successful completion of the massive Resorts World Scope. On the estimating end, it took our team nearly a year to win the large bid. To demonstrate our dedication, we helped general contractor WA Richardson develop the project drawings on which all competing glaziers would place their bid.

We also took multiple meetings with other trades and coordinated our work with theirs as part of our bid. Essentially, we did as much work as we could in advance to map out our scope, schedule, and plan for the project in order to make our bid the most appealing to the general contractor.”

Once the company secured the bid, it was on to sourcing and receiving materials.

Due to the sheer quantity of glazing products required to complete the project, the team at Giroux Glass had to be highly strategic regarding material supplies in order to optimize its manufacturers’ limited quantities and schedules. “We also had to remain very flexible and adaptable, as there were a number of late-stage changes made to the project. To implement these changes against approaching deadlines, our team created a unique, coordinated schedule

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Giroux Glass

Above: Resorts World, Las Vegas

Above: Sheats-Goldstein Residence

Above: Las Vegas City Hall

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that involved constant installation across all areas of the scope. We did not have the luxury to wait for every piece to arrive before beginning the work; we had to install materials as we received them. In the final months of the project, our field crews were working seven days a week to meet the approaching deadline. Fortunately, their hard work, combined with the strategic efforts of the management team, had our scope completed in time for the hotel’s grand opening in June 2021,” elaborates Nataline.

To make projects of this scale happen, Giroux Glass utilizes cutting edge technology in order to maximize project efficiency. Its CAD department, for example, has been implementing new software programs that allow it to collaborate with other trades in the planning phase of a project. “This significantly cuts back on time and money on our end. In the preconstruction phases, it allows us to view any changes to the project other trades have made in real-time, so we can adapt to them as we create our plan – as opposed to completing a set of plans individually, and awaiting edits and approvals. Once installation begins, we can continue to map out ongoing changes, which significantly reduces the amount of requested change orders.

“This type of software is especially helpful when it comes to providing design-build assistance on projects that involve serious code, material, and structural regulations – like healthcare facilities. Architects and general contractors often look to us for our expertise on selecting the right systems and glass types to meet the requirements on a project, and it is a much more effective way to present plans to regulatory agencies (OSHPD, in California, for example) for review,” Nataline explains.

“In addition to that, in the field, our team uses new equipment that makes our work easier, safer, and more efficient. One current industry trend is the use of extra-large, extra-heavy pieces of glass, which require specialized equipment to move and guide into place. We use the latest Wood’s vacuum cups and lifters, which feature Intelli-Grip technology that monitors lifter operation and safety conditions via a user-friendly control unit and app.”

Finally, although it has not yet been implemented, her team is looking forward to adopting a state-of-the-art installation program called Total Power Station. This application, which operates via smart phone or tablet, uploads CAD plans to its system

Below: Private residence - La Jolla, California

and advises, in real-time, how to install glass according to drawing dimensions.

Turning to the people of the business, Nataline shares how her team is absolutely everything, and how her management crew goes above and beyond to learn the needs of their employees, enabling them to prosper. “We believe our employees are not only important, we do our best to learn how they need to be taught in order to grow and thrive. By prioritizing our people, we create success. The faith we put into our crew leads to them taking the utmost pride and precision in all they do, whether that’s through double checking their work, or even soliciting feedback from our clients for example. By wanting our employees to succeed, they in turn ensure that our clients succeed as well.”

This was evident in how the company navigated the turbulence of the Covid-19 pandemic, by ensuring that every member of the crew was well-looked after. “We never closed down our offices, and our work continued on many of our projects with the multiple layers of Covid-19 safety precautions in place. We did allow our employees to work in the setting where they felt most comfortable during the lockdown period. We already had companywide virtual meeting capabilities,

but obviously we increased those at that time. We also invested in additional companywide technology functions, such as Microsoft Teams applications. It not only further enabled continual communication both from desktops and mobile phones, but features on those apps, like virtual informal chatting and sharing photos provided a new way to engage in the types of activities that demonstrated our strong culture,” she says.

Now, turning to the future, Giroux Glass’s ongoing goal is to continually improve, and Nataline is excited about what

lies ahead for her company’s journey. “I often tell our team, ‘We’re just getting started!’ This year we plan to increase sales by 50 percent,improve margins through increased efficiencies, and roll out companywide dashboards for each of our employees. We’re all about empowering our employees and continually offering them the tools to ‘own’ their work. In five years’ time, we will remain a 100 percent employee-owned company with over $100 million in revenue, while expanding our reach in the Southwest region of the US,” she concludes.

Below: Cain Library, California State University

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Action Gypsum

Independent

success

As one of the industry’s few remaining independent distributors, Action Gypsum distinguishes itself through unparalleled customer service, and a diverse range of products

Action Gypsum www.actiongypsum.com Services: Drywall distribution

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Action Gypsum

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ounded on the shared vision of its Managing Partners, Terri King and Lenin Juarez, Action Gypsum (Action) is a proudly independent company that is known for offering comprehensive services with a depth of industry knowledge. From its first seven-acre facility in Houston, Texas, the company has become a national operation, supplying material for major medical, residential, entertainment, and hospitality projects. Whilst establishing new locations across Arizona, Las Vegas, and California, Action retains its innovative, solutionorientated, and collaborative approach to business.

The foundation of Action Gypsum is the partnership between Terri King and Lenin Juarez. As Managing Partners, the pair have worked for 18 years to build Action into an industry leader. “On May 1st 2003, myself and Lenin combined our 42 years’ worth of industry knowledge in order to create Action

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Gypsum, an independent drywall materials distributor that now has 12 locations across the Texas region,” states Terri.

Since its inception, the company has experienced considerable growth, as Terri continues: “We have grown rapidly over the last few years, and have opened a series of new locations; six in California, three in southern California, three in northern California, Denver, Phoenix and Las Vegas.

Action Gypsum Supply continues to look for opportunities at new locations across the United States.

“The company has reached a number of major milestones in its time. When we first started Action, we had come from a large distributor in the same industry. They would put a lot of stumbling blocks in the way to prevent manufacturers selling to us; this made procuring drywall and metal studs a bit of a challenge, and it was probably the first major barrier to success that we had to overcome. Fortunately, we are a determined

partnership, and we found some suppliers in the Houston area with which we could build strong relationships.”

Competing with much larger corporations meant that Action needed to develop a unique selling point. By offering personalized customer service, the company was able to offer something no one else could, as Lenin details: “What differentiates us from the big companies is our full service offering. We offer comprehensive stocking for residential, commercial and multi-family purposes. Alongside our range of dry wall, we provide metal stud framing, acoustical ceilings, fiberglass insulation, doors, frames, construction tools and plaster.

“Culturally, Action Gypsum is different from some of its larger competitors.

Generally, our competition focusses solely on dry wall distribution, and the service is far less personal. In contrast, Action’s management team is very much involved with the customer base, especially around

the Houston area where we are based. Both Terri and I are here every day, keeping a close eye on our services and meeting the customer’s needs.

“We make weekly journeys not only to the markets in Texas, but also to Action’s branches in Arizona, California, Nevada, and Colorado. We find that customers appreciate our uniquely personal touch, and many industry experts have moved from larger competitors to join Action for that same reason.

“The growth has been exponential, especially over the last seven years, but that hasn’t stopped Action keeping in touch with every single customer. This sense of openness is also reflected in our corporate office; we have glass-front offices and open-door policies to ensure people feel comfortable communicating openly with management. Many of our customers have known Terri for over 30 years, and they would feel comfortable just coming into her office for an informal chat. It definitely makes for strong relationships, and easy

Franklin International Under the Titebond brand, Franklin International has established itself as a leader in the woodworking and construction industry by manufacturing products with unmatched performance and consistent quality. This commitment to performance and quality has helped Titebond become a trusted source amongst professional builders and contractors who count on their wood glues, caulks and sealants, construction adhesives and flooring adhesive products. Titebond’s industry leading construction adhesives meet the highest specifications for the most demanding projects and include the industry’s #1 FRP adhesive, GREENchoice Fast Grab FRP. From drywall to subfloor to landscape applications, Titebond has an adhesive for your next project.

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Action Gypsum

problem solving between us and the people we supply.”

Keeping the company connected is a big motivator for Terri and Lenin, as community is at the core of everything Action does.

As Terri affirms: “We maintain that small company feel by being out in front, communicating with the customers. They know they can pick up the phone and talk to myself or Lenin with ease. Additionally, we make ourselves available in person all across the country; just last week Lenin was in California, Nevada, and Arizona.

“One of the other assets we have that sets us apart is the service we provide.

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Everyone is selling the same thing at around the same price point, so all we can really control is the service that we pride ourselves on offering. We serve our customers, personally, to the best of our ability.”

It is clear that Action’s customer service is one of its most important offerings, as Terri confirms: “We do everything from taking the orders to delivering the goods, and providing an accurate invoice. All of those services come together to add value, and ensure customers have a hassle-free experience.”

“It’s all about making sure the customers are getting their bills in a timely manner, that the material is showing up as promised,

and that everyone is on the same page. We do this by remaining entirely transparent, and engaging in effective two-way communication,” Lenin adds.

Shifts in the broader industry culture have also supported Action Gypsum’s success over the past few years, as Terri observes: “Over the last two years we have benefitted from a lot of our competition being acquired by larger companies. When a smaller competitor becomes part of an acquisition, the avenue is opened up for us to go in and offer our unique services.

Further, a lot of the people working for these smaller businesses don’t want to go

and work for a large corporation, and so we get a lot of really informed and experienced people reaching out to us to become a part of Action. That’s how our San Diego location got off the ground, and it has also benefitted our Las Vegas network.”

Action’s community-focused working culture also helped it throughout the pandemic, as Terri and Lenin kept the company’s doors open throughout. “We left stores open, and allowed customers in as long as they felt safe, which allowed us to take some of the market share at that time,” Terri explains.

“We also allowed employees to make decisions for themselves in terms of what they felt comfortable with. A lot of our customers had to keep going in order to survive, and we were one of the only drywall distributors in the state of Texas that kept its doors open to them. I think people really appreciated that,” Lenin adds.

Maintaining an open-door policy in difficult times has helped Action Gypsum continue to grow by ten percent, year-onyear since 2020. Supporting the company’s expansion is its network of vendors and suppliers, as Terri enthuses: “Our vendors have been invaluable in managing such rapid growth. Our success is definitely in part thanks to the strong relationships we

maintain, and we really appreciate having been able to work with such great partners for over a decade.

“They have grown with us, and enabled the company to continue expanding, without worrying about supply. Many of our suppliers have supported us when we have grown into new areas where we didn’t have an established location yet, and in return we have provided them with a steady flow of business, and a reliable partner.”

As an industry leader, Action Gypsum has become a go-to source for material on landmark projects. “One of the biggest projects we have been working on recently is the Tesla Gigafactory in Austin. We also worked on the Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge – California project at Disneyland, California, which was great fun.

“In terms of upcoming projects, we are now preparing to work on Fontainebleau Las Vegas – Las Vegas, NV. This will be really key, as it is taking place in a newly emerging market for us,” Terri confirms.

For 18 years, Action Gypsum has successfully added value to its customer’s projects through comprehensive service, partnership, safety and dexterity. As it continues to grow, and establish itself in new markets, the company is determined to remain true to its original mission, as Terri

concludes: “2022 is an important year for us, we will be establishing ourselves in the new markets, and continuing to build relationships with customers across the US. With everything going on, one of our primary goals is to remain independent, and continue offering unparalleled customer service.”

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Lindamood

In safe

hands

A family business to its core, Lindamood provides a range of services across demolition, excavation, remediation, and haulage, built upon a reputation for safety and quality

Lindamood www.lindamood.net Services: Demolition, excavation, remediation, and haulage

F

amily owned and operated for more than 40 years, the story of Lindamood began in 1975.

Founded by Bobby Lindamood, Sr. in Irving, Texas, the company initially began undertaking earthworks for builders, before quickly acquiring the capability to perform excavation services. Soon after, Bobby was joined by his wife, Kayla, and the pair set to work expanding the business.

In 1982, the company grew its services to include demolition and site remediation.

Fast forward another eight years, and the contracts were rolling in – notably, including multiple projects for Dallas Fort Worth International Airport. Further services were added throughout the next decade, including disaster recovery series in 2004, and heavy

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hauling a year later. Lindamood undertook its first implosion in 2006, with the demolition of Providence Hospital in Waco, Texas – and after another three years, successfully executed its debut high-reach demolition in Austin, on the campus of the University of Texas.

As the company’s capabilities have grown, so too has its size. Today, Lindamood operates across the US, with a staff of over 250, and an ever-deepening equipment fleet, including the largest high-reach boom in the southern US, at a towering 120ft tall. Now a recognized name, with ample experience, the company caters to a number of sectors, including commercial, sports and recreation, industrial, institutional, mining, power generation, heavy highway, rail, aviation, and water and wastewater. Its proven track record, successful

safety measures, and quality practices have positioned it at the top of the industry.

Crucially, Lindamood remains a family business, headed up by Kayla, and her son Jake. Having followed in his father’s footsteps from a young age, Jake spent every weekend and holiday working at Bobby’s side, learning to run every piece of equipment they owned.

The young boy was especially drawn to the trucking side of the business and bought his own haul truck as soon as he was old enough to get a CDL. Thirteen years on from Bobby’s tragic passing away, Jake and Kayla continue to drive his legacy with a commitment to Lindamood’s signature workmanship, safety, and customer satisfaction.

The continuity that characterizes Lindamood’s leadership team is reflected in

what is a relatively unchanged service offering.

Providing interior and exterior demolition solutions customized to each project site, Lindamood has brought down commercial buildings, office structures, single- and multifamily homes, educational facilities, hospitals, power plants, and airports. Its work with municipalities, transportation authorities, and other public infrastructure entities have included demolishing railroads, roadways, bridges, and treatment plants.

Among the company’s numerous specialties are its demolition services, an area in which the Lindamood team boasts of its ‘unrivalled quality’. When it comes to executing a structure takedown, steps have to be taken to minimize impact to the surrounding buildings and population. In this, Lindamood is confident in its capabilities, with Jake and Kayla’s team drawing on its extensive background performing safe and successful demolitions and implosions in high-activity areas, including a deep familiarity with site preparation, and access to the best tools for the job.

A subset of its demolition services, Lindamood also has ample expertise within selective demolition, including building renovations, historic renovations, and office revamps. In all cases, the company has the capability to clear out the old structures and internals in order to make way for the new developments. Doing so requires a high level of precision and care, so as not to cause damage to the structures earmarked to remain.

To meet this challenge, Lindamood deploys a series of high-tech solutions. The company has been responsible for the separation and connection of multi-story medical buildings using robots, and has brainstormed creative ways to convey debris from basements to

the ground level. Delivering everything from gutting, to plumbing system, sheetrock, roof, and wall removal, the company’s ability to solve complex challenges time and time again underlines its advanced capabilities within the field of demolition.

The foundation for its work, earthworks and excavation are another key component of Lindamood’s service range. When it comes to completely levelling a structure, or carving out an underground parking garage, Lindamood’s team interact with soil on a regular basis.

From drainage canals to preparing for new roads, the company’s technical knowledge and experience allows it to tailor the work to its clients’ unique project specifications. As it

Tarango Trucking LLC Tarango Trucking LLC has worked in various projects with Lindamood Inc. for over a decade in the DFW Metroplex. We have provided Lindamood Inc. with transportation services that consist of importing and exporting of construction materials, including but not limited to trash, trees, concrete and dirt. Lindamood Inc. has always demonstrated workmanship and leadership in the demolition and excavating industry. Working with a contractor that values clients and vendors makes a great working environment and creating a strong, trustworthy business relationship. As the years progress, we are looking forward to support Lindamood Inc. and their future projects and are honored to be a part of their team..

TARANGO TRUCKING

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Lindamood

likes to say, ‘while we may not be able to move heaven, we can move earth.’

Not all works are planned for, however.

When disaster strikes, contamination happens, or asbestos appears, clients need someone that they can rely on to help set everything right. Cue Lindamood’s remediation and recovery services. It acts as a remediation provider for an array of sensitive locations,

from water and wastewater treatment plants to hurricane-ravaged neighborhoods.

The company’s remediation experts pride themselves on standing among the best in Texas, and are committed to creating or restoring safe environments and peace of mind. As with each of its projects, Lindamood again places a strong emphasis on the use care and precision when assisting families,

communities, businesses, and municipalities with clearing away the unexpected, making way for a brighter, stronger future.

The last of Lindamood’s services is heavy hauling. Catering for those clients in need of moving extremely heavy, and unusually shaped machinery, the company is intimately familiar with the logistical challenges that oversized transport loads can present. Its specialized team and fleet of heavy haul equipment brings clients the safest and most efficient service in Texas and beyond, getting heavy equipment where it needs to go, on time, and without incident.

Across all its work, Lindamood is supported by the dedication and enthusiasm of its employees, each of whom are committed to seeing each project through to completion.

It’s these individuals, ultimately, who have guided Lindamood’s success, whether that be in the demolition of single-family homes, the implosion of high-rise buildings, the decommissioning and dismantling of industrial facilities, or the excavation of basements in excess of 70ft in depth.

In carrying out this work, those employees are supported by the company itself: not least, in what is a rigorous approach to safety.

A feature of all the company’s works, it goes without saying that the health and wellbeing of Lindamood’s employees and community are a top priority. It’s for that reason that the company developed its ‘First Time Right’ philosophy, which requires that Lindamood’s teams plan and analyze the job in advance to safely complete each project.

Likewise, Lindamood has developed a company culture around the motto of ‘Live Safety.’ As part of it, each team member has the responsibility to live safety at the job site, and to teach others to live safety as well. It’s for that reason that every team member is empowered to call a work-stop if they find a process, or an employee, that is not in line with the company’s high standards. Similarly, Lindamood goes above industry standards, ensuring that its employees are trained in the latest safety methods and regulations.

In-house training is provided by the company’s Corporate Safety and Training Director, including new information on technology, procedures, and equipment. The Lindamood equipment fleet also maintains a strict maintenance schedule, adhering to equipment replacement policies and utilizing certified mechanics.

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