Case Studies General Contractor

It seemed a risky move back in late 2011 when Gary Wood, all of 30 years old and tired of toiling for others, went forth with his own construction company at a time when builders in the greater St. Louis area were having trouble finding work. “I had a lot of people tell me it […]

When it comes to urban development, “mixed-use” is a term that gets volleyed around quite a bit these days. As cities and towns grapple with their (in some cases limited) existing space and simultaneously strive to make themselves desirable, the concept of melding residential, commercial, cultural and industrial uses into one harmonious package seems to […]

True custom homes are as much art as abode, but building them isn’t without stress for contractors and clients alike. Staying on schedule and on budget is an especially difficult prospect, to a large degree because crews and project managers often work from plans that have never been built before, and clients can request changes […]

Many construction companies may call themselves custom home builders, but in Chris Edwards’ experience, oftentimes they are only offering customers a choice among pre-selected homes. “It’s what I call a ‘modified tract home,’ and they basically show you their product line of maybe a handful of floor plans and a few designs, and that’s it,” […]

Starting a new business, in any industry, requires striking a balance between the size of the company and the volume of work it handles. Increasing the staff too quickly, without sales to support it, can sap profits, while taking on too much work can overwhelm the staff. Matt Genzale, the founder and owner of MRG […]

Few things can deteriorate like a big unmaintained building, and the folks of Greensboro, North Carolina, were constantly so reminded when they ventured just north of the downtown. For it was there where much of a sprawling, once-teeming mill complex had been crumbling since its looms ceased operating in 1982, there being little need in […]

The walls are upright, the plumbing is installed, the roof is secured, electric is done. It’s time for most design-build construction firms to move on, but Vice President and Head of Design at Dan Waibel Designer Builder Will Waibel, says his firm’s work is only partially done. “While the typical design builder will usually leave […]

Plenty of contractors know the benefit of performing services in-house, from added quality control to offering more diverse services and taking bigger jobs, but SEH Excavating Contractors also sees a much more profound benefit. “In a way, it’s how we’re able to control our own destiny,” says Vice President of Operations Mike Shenkle. Based in […]

Paul Eitel takes pride in building, whether it’s a physical structure or his children’s character. It just better stand the test of time and whatever storms—literal or metaphorical—may arise. Just back from the Republic of Georgia, where his 11-year-old son, Hayden, joined him in relief efforts on behalf of refugees from some of the world’s […]

There’s life yet in The Foundry, a different kind of existence to be sure than when it was the foremost metal-casting facility in Kalamazoo, Michigan. But workplaces may have to change in order to be relevant and this one sure has, with the industrial work of another era giving way to 50,000-plus square feet of […]