C O M PA N Y OVERVIEW
Fairchance Fairchance ConstructionCom Co Construction Celebrating 100 Years Of Construction Excellence! Building on a traditional foundation while evolving into the next century of building mastery. Written By: Ken Lambert CSI Designed By: Gary Joiner
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Cover Photo By: Nic Lehoux
Inset Photo By: Denmarsh Photography
Fairchance Construction
Hilton Garden Inn Exterior
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US Building News
CONSTRUCTION
Calfrac Well Services
any general contractors across the country are seeking the elusive recipe for success. After an impressive 100 years in business, Western Pennsylvania based Fairchance Construction Company has plenty to say about it, and more to show.
Building on Tradition, and Evolving Plenty of construction companies talk about tradition and an “old-school” work ethic, but Fairchance can actually back up the clichés. What started as a lumber & building materials supplier in 1880 morphed into a contracting firm in 1916, via the great grandfather of the current President, Ed Balling.
generation. It really is rather remarable, but I feel it is all based on the tradition and footprint that was given to us by my grandfather and my father,” states Ed Balling. “They instilled that kind of work ethic within me early on. I worked in the field, hauling and setting block- alongside all the other guys,”. Brian Gaudiano, Vice-President, believes the fact that he and Ed have physically worked in the field sets them apart from a lot of commercial construction companies these days. “I worked several years as a carpenter before getting into supervisory roles and into management, and that experience has helped me and it helps Fairchance in our everyday business,”.
“We have been incredibly blessed, to have a thriving business now in its 4th www.fairchanceconstruction.com 4
Serving the Construction Industry since 1967 for ALL of your Steel and Laminated Wood products
Proud to be a longstanding Structural Building Products Subcontractor for Fairchance Construction in their 100 year History. As we are entering into our 50th year, we have Best Wishes for OUR continued “Working Together� relationship for the next 100 years.
Congratulations to Fairchance Construction on Your100th Anniversary
FAIRCHANCE Hilton Garden Inn
Keys to Success Fairchance’s success goes deeper than just tradition and work ethic. Their management has strategically focused on project diversity, as well as partnering with a well-known industry name. Fairchance has been a Butler Building contractor for nearly 50 years, and has built over 100 Butler projects along the way- be it pre-engineered buildings or reroofing solutions. This partnership has generated millions of dollars of revenue for Fairchance, and many more leads and opportunities along the way. With Butler, they are able to provide projects and buildings that can be completed quicker, utilizing better energy efficiency, while often times being less expensive.
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to the company’s strategic management efforts. This includes varying types of projects, construction elements, newer construction technologies like insulated concrete forms (ICF), as well as getting into the development and joint-venture arena. “In certain cases, with some hotels, apartments buildings, or non-profits, it can make a lot of sense for us to take some kind of equity stake of a building or perhaps offer a lease-back option,” says Ed. The company’s willingness to take a serious look at these options have increased its opportunities and signed contracts. While typical general contracting is implemented in many cases, Fairchance also offers construction management services in addition to design-build arrangements. They are also licensed in 5 states, although they have worked all over the East Coast and even the Bahamas. Lastly, the company constructs and fabricates its own custom casework for most of its projects. This is yet another way it sets itself apart from some of its competitors.
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CONGRATULATIONS
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“It’s all about relationships.” Most of their contracts are private projects, mainly bidding By-Invite only. Referrals and repeat customers are what keeps this engine running. They very rarely bid a public, Plan-and-Spec project. Business and building owners like Mike Wood, a successful auto dealer, have hired Fairchance numerous times through the years. Clearly, building and actively maintaining relationships with owners and developers are instrumental to the success of Fairchance. That solidifies its business development efforts, but Fairchance believes that its relationships with its employees, subcontractors, and suppliers are just as important. Employees are seen like part of the extended family, and treated as such. Everyone’s opinion is valued and heard, from the mason tender on upwards. As a result, they have a good core group of tradesmen and superintendents.
Most of their subcontractors have been with Fairchance for many years and several projects. Brian states that this close relationships with different subcontractors and trades allow better project efficiency and less loose-ends and contractual disagreements. Likewise, vendor relations are crucial to the success of any commercial project. Fairchance aims to treat suppliers fairly, and relies on them to further improve their project performance and schedule.
“We are always looking to improve, and we don’t take things for granted,” - Ed. South Hills Toyota Service Area
Brian brags, “I think we have some of the best superintendents around. They really are like conductors out there, in a symphony,”. If different trades and subs and others are all doing their own thing or with different priorities, the end result will be poor. “Our supers do a great job with keeping everyone on the same page.” www.fairchanceconstruction.com 8
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Specialists in Architectural Canopies, Auto Dealerships, Commercial Projects, Medical Centers, Retail Facilities, Schools & Universities, CNG & LNG Canopies, Petroleum Station Canopies and more.
343 Williams Rd. Morgantown, WV 26501
www.andersonexcavatingllc.com
Office - 304-983-2296
800-832-3212
Fax - 304-983-4755
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Along with the quality and pleasing aesthetics of a TFC Canopy system, we also provide Leica TrueView 3D scan technology to acquire our field measurements.
...and more.
ANDERSON PLUMBING
Proud Plumbing Contractor for Fairchance Construction Serving Pennsylvania for over 50 Years
Faris Carpet & Tile 7495 National Pike Uniontown, PA 15401 Phone: 724-438-0983 Email: info@fariscarpetandtile.com info@fariscarpetandtile.com
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FAIRCHANCE
100,000 s.f. of finished space, on a 45 acre campus. Approximately 260,000 cubic yards of material had to be cut and filled.
Project Highlights One of the crowning achievements of Fairchance is a design-build project in conjunction with McMillen Engineering, called Calfrac Well Services. This state-of-the-art headquarters facility encompassed three buildings totaling over
Specialty engineering considerations included a chemical containment facility, as well as slab construction that would withstand a 100,000 pound truck. Other major completed projects of significance include: South Hills Toyota, Hilton Garden Inn, Yester Square Apartments, RW Sleighter Architects and Engineers Office Building, and a project at Fallingwater. This Fallingwater annex building is part of a historic and unique property in western Pennsylvania which was originally designed by America’s most famous architect, Frank Lloyd Wright.
YESTER SQUARE APARTMENTS
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Fairchance Construction Company
Challenges and Opportunities Fairchance regularly deals with project challenges that mirrors those of many other contractors in the industry. These include: design, schedule, locations/site logistics, unsuitable soils, historic buildings/preservation, etc. Most in commercial construction have seen over the past decade or so that the schedule and allowable construction days have become more stringent and accelerated. This commonplace scenario can wreak havoc on getting a building completed properly AND with the expected profit margin. Fairchance is an expert in these types of projects. They built a 58-unit apartment complex start to finish in just 360 calendar days, and they also completed a new Toyota dealership in just 6 months. 100 Years, and Looking for More Fairchance is not resting on its laurels. It remains active with some key trade and business associations, such as: the local county Chamber of Commerce, U.S. Green Building Council, and the Pittsburgh Builders Exchange. The company is on top of BIM and other key technological advances and systems within the construction and design fields. But in the end, it comes right back to its pillars of: quality, integrity, and relationship-building. “We are always looking to improve, and we don’t take things for granted,” notes Ed. Sounds like a winning recipe.
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Company Information INDUSTRY
Construction HEADQUARTERS 77 S. Morgantown St. Fairchance, Pa 15436 FOUNDED 1916 REVENUE Private TOP PROJECTS Fallingwater Calfrac Wel Services South Hills Toyota Mylan Pharmaceutical JG Sunoco and Arby’s Hilton Garden Inn
SERVICES Design-Build Pre-Construction Services General Contractor & Construction Management Authorized Butler Builder.
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VERIZON WIRELESS
Projects of Any Size Did you know... Fairchance Construction Company has handled contracts ranging from under $1 million to nearly $40 million?
South Hills Toyota Service Bay
Congratulations Fairchance Construction on 100 years of business. www.fairchanceconstruction.com
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Fairchance Construction Company
South Hills Toyota
Excellence in Butler Products Did you know... in 2011 Fairchance Construction Company was the top Butler pre-engineered builder in the region, and was in the top 25 in Butler building sales in the country?
Calfrac Well Services
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South Hills Toyota Construction Stages
77 S. MORGANTOWN ST., FAIRCHANCE, PA 15436
724-564-7485
www.fairchanceconstruction.com Building on tradition, and evolving!
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