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3 Tips On How To Find The Perfect Commercial Construction Contractor… And Be A Great Construction Client

Earlier this spring, I had the opportunity to talk with Restaurant Development + Design Magazine for an article on “How to Find the Perfect Construction Partner” that just published in the July/August issue. The final piece is a great resource that’s relevant to pretty much every commercial real estate sector – not just restaurant development – and covers important points that should be on anyone’s checklist when vetting and choosing a construction partner for a commercial real estate project.

Providing a clear scope of work and investing in quality architectural drawings are key to a successful client-contractor relationship, according to Englewood Construction.

As part of my interview, the reporter turned the tables on the topic and asked for my perspective on what construction firms look for in a great client. It’s an excellent point because any successful contractor-client relationship is a two-way street built on having two parties that respect each other, hold up their respective ends of the partnership, and just generally feel good about working together. Plus, once a client finds a great construction partner, the best way to hold onto them is by being a good customer themselves. Here’s some of what I shared in the article, plus some additional thoughts:

1. Be Selective in the Bidding Process

If the project is a competitive bid, some clients are tempted to send it out for pricing to a laundry list of construction firms. But for us, it’s a major red flag when a client is willing to take a number from anyone and everyone just to get to the lowest price. There’s a huge range of construction firms out there, from well-established, respected companies all the way down to what I call “pickup truck” contractors – who are major risks when it comes to reliability and follow-through. Not to mention, there are factors other than price that should be weighed when selecting a construction partner, from the firm’s reputation to their portfolio of relevant experience. It’s well worth the time for clients to vet firms they are considering in advance and ask a select few to participate in the bidding process. Doing so tells us they are as serious about the project as we are.

2. Invest in Quality Drawings and Documents

I can’t emphasize enough the importance of hiring a good architect and engineer and paying them well for a quality set of project plans and documents. While we’ve certainly worked with clients based on barely more than a sketch, that is far from optimal – and signals to us that the client might not be fully committed to a project or will be cutting corners at every turn. Plus, it not only makes our job that much more difficult when we have to interpret the client’s intent from limited information, but it can also lead to costly change orders for the client if details are missed or misinterpreted because they aren’t clearly spelled out.

3. Look for Partners, not Vendors

By far, the clients we love working with time and time again are those that think of us as a true partner in their business, rather than just a vendor they choose based on price. A trusted general contractor has real expertise to offer, and can help make sure your job runs smoothly by anticipating and heading off issues before construction starts – and even value engineer the project in ways you or your architect might not have considered. Our most successful client relationships are the ones where we’re brought to the table early and often, and have an opportunity to offer input on a project even before plans are finalized and bidding begins. In the best scenarios, this leads to repeat business and a long-standing relationship that is fruitful and beneficial on both sides.

Chuck Taylor, Director of Operations Tel: 847-233-9200 x712 Questions? Comments? You can reach me at CTaylor@eci.build www.EnglewoodConstruction.com

from Hard Hat Chat http://commercialconstructionblog.com/3-tips-on-how-to-find-the-perfect-commercial-construction-contractor-and-be-a-great-construction-client/ via Hard Hat Chat from Blogger http://sdeckermike.blogspot.com/2020/07/3-tips-on-how-to-find-perfect.html via blogger

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3 Reasons Your Commercial Contractor Should Be Your First Call When The Unexpected Strikes

For anyone that owns or operates a commercial property, there are bound to be unanticipated repairs or surprise construction issues that pop up. But every once in a while, the truly unexpected strikes. And so far in 2020, we’ve already experienced two nationwide instances where CRE owners are dealing with situations they probably never imagined.

As a national commercial contractor, Englewood Construction was able to tap resources to assist a national retail brand client with boarding up locations across the country for security purposes.

First was the coronavirus pandemic and stay-at-home orders. From a commercial facility standpoint, this initially involved securing properties in preparation to be closed for what turned out to be a number of weeks. Now, facility owners, operators and tenants are mostly in the process of reopening – and in many cases making quick physical changes such as installing hand sanitizing stations, touch-free entries and spacing barriers in order to resume business while adhering to social distancing guidelines.

And earlier this month, just as businesses began to cautiously reopen, property owners in cities across the country unexpectedly dealt with widespread looting and vandalism following the death of George Floyd. Many businesses – from national brands to mom and pop shops – scrambled to board up locations in areas where looting was anticipated, and deal with resulting property damage.

In these types of scenarios and more, it can be difficult for a CRE owner to know exactly who to call first for help. Afterall, these situations don’t exactly fall under the usual parameters of “commercial construction.” But it turns out your commercial general contractor is exactly who you should call when you need this type of assistance – and quickly. Here’s why:

1. The GC already knows you and your facility:

When we work with a client, that relationship stays in place long after construction is done. So, when a client – former or current – calls with an urgent request, we’re there to help. That was the case with one national retail brand and its Michigan Avenue flagship store we completed several years ago. We were their first call this month when they needed help boarding up the storefront when looting was expected in Chicago. Because we knew the client and were familiar with the property, it was easy to jump in.

On that note, when an urgent facility need comes up, it’s always best to call someone who already knows the property – such as the construction firm that built it. For another retail construction client we’ve partnered with for years on commercial construction projects across the country, we know their facilities inside and out and so we were able to provide remote, virtual advice on how to secure their stores and reset settings on automatic building systems in anticipation of closing during stay-at-home orders.

2. The GC is probably already doing the same work for others:

Many unexpected situations – from the current pandemic to weather events like a hurricane – impact an entire community or geographic area. That means if you’re contacting your GC for emergency facility assistance, they’re probably already aware of the situation and are making preparations to help as many clients as possible – such as stocking up on materials in advance and contacting the subcontractors they trust most to be on call to assist preferred clients.

There are also advantages in numbers. With the recent looting in Chicago, the Englewood team was able to help multiple clients more efficiently because so many called us for help boarding up storefronts. Not only did we know which board up services were available and which were booked up, but we also were able to coordinate work for clients located in proximity to each other.

3. The GC has the right connections:

Not sure who to call to board up your storefront windows? Don’t know what type of supplier to contact for touchless entry systems? Well, your commercial contractor does. And for brands with locations across the country, it’s especially valuable to have a national commercial contractor on speed dial, since we have resources we can tap in nearly any market

Another advantage is if trades are swamped responding to a local issue, we can tap our contacts from the surrounding region to come in and help.

Besides having the knowledge and connections to know who to call in a variety of situations, a good GC can usually handle general carpentry work and other services with their own staff. On more than one occasion, we’ve loaded up an Englewood truck with supplies and sent our team out to handle repairs or cleanup after a large-scale weather event.

We always say our goal is to become a partner to our clients rather than just another vendor, and that is never more important than when times get tough. Remember your GC is a resource and an expert, and put them at the top of your list to call when the unexpected happens.

Chuck Taylor, Director of Operations Tel: 847-233-9200 x712 Questions? Comments? You can reach me at CTaylor@eci.build www.EnglewoodConstruction.com

from Hard Hat Chat http://commercialconstructionblog.com/3-reasons-your-commercial-contractor-should-be-your-first-call-when-the-unexpected-strikes/ via Hard Hat Chat from Blogger http://sdeckermike.blogspot.com/2020/06/3-reasons-your-commercial-contractor.html via blogger

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Prepping For Reentry: 8 Facility Maintenance Steps For Reopening Commercial Properties

A version of this post was published in Illinois Real Estate Journal as a bylined article from Englewood Construction.

According to Englewood Construction, prepping commercial facilities to reopen should include reviewing mechanical systems and rescheduling missed preventative maintenance appointments (*photo taken pre-pandemic).

Across the country, states are in various phases of reentry and preparing their plans to roll back stay-at-home orders that were put in place to help mitigate the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. Here in Englewood Construction’s home state of Illinois, we are on track to move into Phase 3 of Governor Pritzker’s Restore Illinois plan at the end of the month, which will allow offices, manufacturing, retail and salons to reopen to the public under specific guidelines. As the economy reawakens and businesses prepare to resume operations under this new normal, commercial property owners and operators in virtually every commercial real estate sector should also be making plans for reopening facilities that, in many cases, have been unoccupied for weeks if not months.

Part of that preparation process should absolutely involve a facility maintenance check to ensure the property is ready to welcome back tenants or employees. After all, just as most of us are emerging from the pandemic shutdown in desperate need of a haircut and with a laundry list of missed medical and dental appointments to reschedule, many commercial facilities also fell behind on regular preventative maintenance appointments. Plus, some building mechanicals will require extra attention after lack of use, and automated systems may need to be adjusted to match new schedules. Here’s a list of important items Englewood’s facilities management division recommends property owners and operators review as they prepare for reentry:

Hopefully, routine facility maintenance checks have already been happening during the closure, since issues overlooked for a few days or weeks – like a water valve break or small roof leak – can easily escalate into big problems. As a continuation of these checks, visit the property for a thorough walkthrough prior to reopening. Check all mechanical systems, identify any problems and make a list of items to address.

Flush sewer lines and drains to make sure valves and seals are working. Sinks, floor drains and toilets all have “P” traps that hold just enough water to keep sewer gas from rising up into the space; when they aren’t used regularly, the water in the P trap evaporates and sewer odor escapes. If this happens, pour a half gallon of water mixed with 1 cup white vinegar down the lines and the odor will eventually dissipate.

Review any automated systems that were adjusted or shut off while the property was closed, such as heating/cooling or timers for lighting. If regular business hours will be different due to a phased reopening – or if some areas of the facility will remain closed or total occupancy is expected to be lower than usual – adjust those automated settings accordingly.

Many regular facility maintenance and cosmetic “refresh” projects are easier to accomplish when a facility is unoccupied or has lower traffic. Consider using the weeks prior to reopening to tackle work such as painting or new carpet/flooring installation, which is typically classified as essential business under stay-at-home orders and can be safely accomplished following social distancing measures.

Check facility records for any annual property inspections that were missed due to closures – such as sprinkler system, fire alarms, backflow preventers and other items – and reschedule with the appropriate groups.

Begin rescheduling any preventative maintenance appointments that were postponed during the closure, including regular servicing of vital systems such as HVAC, plumbing and fire protection. These trades are likely to get booked up in the months ahead as many property owners and managers play catch-up on missed service calls, so get a jump start by scheduling them right away – even before facilities reopen, since in most cases this type of work is continuing under local stay-at-home orders.

It’s also advisable to schedule future preventative maintenance appointments now for the next six months or more. As the economy returns to normal and more and more facilities reopen, there is likely to be a surge of activity and demand for contractors – so get back on track with maintenance schedules and get those appointments on the books now.

Finally, consider what immediate changes are necessary to prepare the facility to reopen and operate under social distancing recommendations. While some larger-scale reconfiguration might ultimately be necessary and require the expertise of an architect and contractor, a facility maintenance provider can be a great resource to retrofit a space with items such as hand sanitizer stations, touchless plumbing fixtures, automatically opening doors and other design features that can help a commercial facility quickly and safely get back to business.

Chuck Taylor, Director of Operations Tel: 847-233-9200 x712 Questions? Comments? You can reach me at CTaylor@eci.build www.EnglewoodConstruction.com

from Hard Hat Chat http://commercialconstructionblog.com/prepping-for-reentry-8-facility-maintenance-steps-for-reopening-commercial-properties/ via Hard Hat Chat from Blogger http://sdeckermike.blogspot.com/2020/05/prepping-for-reentry-8-facility.html via blogger

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Commercial Construction News: Celebrating Women in Construction and Englewood Construction’s Own Tara Fox

Tara Fox is a senior project manager with Englewood Construction.

As our Englewood Construction team works together to continue serving our commercial construction clients while also navigating the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on our industry, we are more thankful than ever for our staff of dedicated and experienced employees. For this month’s blog post, we wanted to take the opportunity to highlight one of those employees: Tara Fox, a senior project manager.

Last month, Tara was part of a terrific RE Journals article that published during Women in Construction Week, which was celebrated the first week of March. The story profiled several women in construction, sharing how they got their start and their perspective on working in this industry.

Here’s an excerpt from the article with Tara’s responses:

How did you get into the construction industry?

In the past I worked with the wife of the owner of Englewood Construction, and she urged me on several occasions to submit a resume to her husband’s company. I was always hesitant because, at that time, I knew nothing about construction, but I finally followed her advice and it was one of the best decisions I ever made. My first position with Englewood was at the administrative level, and 18 years later I’ve worked my way up to senior project manager. I have been very fortunate in the mentors, experiences and opportunities presented to me that have allowed me to grow in this industry.

Describe a typical day on the job.

One of the things I love most about this job – and working in construction – is that every day is different. There truly is not a “typical” day. Each day, and each project, provides an opportunity to learn something new, solve different challenges and develop new relationships and partnerships.

What have been some of the biggest obstacles (if any)?

One of the biggest challenges for anyone in this industry is maintaining work-life balance. Construction is simply not a five-days-a-week, nine-to-five type of job. It requires a lot of early mornings, late nights, weekends and travel. Balancing work and family is an ever-evolving process and something everyone in this field has to work at every day.

What was your favorite construction project and why?

It’s difficult to choose just one, because there’s always something unique and interesting about every project. One that stands out from several years ago is the 23rd Street Café at McCormick Place in Chicago. We combined part of the floor that was used for shows with two other concepts that we demoed to build out the café and created a new pedestrian walkway bridge for access. Not only were there interesting design elements involved and the challenge of coordinating around shows and events that were taking place during construction, but there were also great people involved on all aspects of the project.

Englewood’s ongoing work with American Girl to build and renovate American Girl Place stores across the country would also make my list of favorites, especially the locations we built in Orlando and Nashville. Everyone involved on these projects were truly partners throughout the duration of construction and even after completion — it’s very rewarding to establish that level of relationship with our clients and trade partners.

What do you like most about your job?

The construction business is built on relationships, and I really enjoy the opportunity to interact with so many different people in my work. Establishing strong connections and loyalties with clients, trades and vendors across the country is invaluable in being successful in this industry.

How has the participation of women in construction changed over the years and where do you see it heading?

Being a woman in this field was definitely unusual when I got into the industry, but that has changed exponentially over the years. Now, women are commonplace in pretty much all disciplines of construction, and we’re growing, flourishing and stepping into leadership positions. I also see more and more young women entering the field, with many of them participating in construction management or engineering programs at universities or entering trade schools. That’s a great thing for this industry, where there are so many opportunities across a variety of skills.

We’re very proud of women like Tara who help make up our Englewood Construction team. In the weeks and months ahead, we know it will be all of our employees, and the many skilled and dedicated people working across all areas of construction, that will see us through the current challenge our world and our industry face.

Chuck Taylor, Director of Operations Tel: 847-233-9200 x712 Questions? Comments? You can reach me at CTaylor@eci.build www.EnglewoodConstruction.com

from Hard Hat Chat http://commercialconstructionblog.com/women-in-construction-tara-fox/ via Hard Hat Chat from Blogger http://sdeckermike.blogspot.com/2020/04/commercial-construction-news.html via blogger

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The New Normal: Commercial Construction Continues in Unprecedented COVID-19 Times

Bill Di Santo, president, Englewood Construction”

This is undoubtedly an unprecedented time in our country as efforts to contain the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) are impacting all of us on both personal and professional levels. We are in uncharted territory, but amid this “new normal” Englewood Construction remains open and committed to serving our clients — while also following guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as industry associations, to ensure the safety and well-being of our employees, subcontractors and project partners.

As a national commercial construction firm with active projects across the country, we are monitoring this situation on many fronts and in many markets. Currently, construction sites are open and work is continuing in most states where we have projects underway — including our home state of Illinois where construction is deemed an “essential” business exempt from the current stay-at-home directive put in place by our governor. In addition to our construction operations, our Facilities Management team also continues to be active, helping clients address urgent maintenance issues and plan for ongoing maintenance work in this new landscape. We also have a pipeline of projects in preconstruction services or under negotiation, and those functions continue uninterrupted.

We are counseling clients about special considerations during this time, including:

Extra precautions on job sites to follow guidelines for social distancing and cleaning/sanitization of work areas

Planning additional time for permitting and inspections in areas where municipalities are closed or operating with a limited staff in compliance with shelter-in-place orders

Potential delays of material deliveries due to products coming from overseas or manufacturing shut-downs in areas with shelter-in-place orders

Our Englewood Construction executive team has decades of combined experience in this industry, and we are drawing on that depth of expertise and perspective to serve our clients, staff and industry partners in this new landscape. Our country has been through challenging times before, but if there’s one thing I know to be true, it’s that we work in a resilient industry. As noted in this recent Slate article: “Seven million Americans work in construction, nearly three times as many as work for the federal government … If there’s one thing that keeps our country moving, it’s building.”

As always, we truly appreciate the relationships we enjoy with our clients, subcontractors, suppliers and other partners in this industry. We look forward to continuing to work with you now and into the future.

Bill Di Santo President Tel: 847-233-9200 x710 Questions? Comments? You can reach me at bill.disanto@englewoodconstruction.com www.englewoodconstruction.com

from Hard Hat Chat http://commercialconstructionblog.com/commercial-construction-covid-%e2%80%a819/ via Hard Hat Chat from Blogger http://sdeckermike.blogspot.com/2020/03/the-new-normal-commercial-construction.html via blogger

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Shopping Mall Development Trends: Are Ghost Kitchens the Answer for Vacant Mall Space?

CRE developers and owners are continuing to think creatively about filling vacant shopping mall space, and recently the idea of bringing in “ghost kitchens” to fill obsolete retail square footage has started to gain traction. The Wall Street Journal recently covered this trend in an article noting a major mall owner is partnering with a hospitality group to create ghost kitchens – stand-alone food service facilities dedicated to fulfilling app-based delivery orders for either an existing restaurant or a unique brand – in unused shopping center retail space.

As a national commercial construction firm with extensive experience in both the retail and restaurant construction sectors, we’re watching this trend with interest. While the name “ghost kitchen” is new, various food concepts have been using off-site commissary kitchens for many years. However, that strategy has been more prevalent with fast food and fast-casual brands with limited in-store space for food prep; items are prepared in a commissary, then trucked to various locations for sale.

By comparison, the ghost kitchen trend is largely being driven by the growing popularity of food delivery apps such as Grubhub and Uber Eats. Restaurants, seeing a big uptick in revenue stream from the delivery side of their business thanks to these apps, are seeking new ways to handle those operations and not to interfere with their regular dining service. Enter the ghost kitchen.

From our perspective, bringing ghost kitchens to malls certainly isn’t a bad use of vacant retail space. It makes a lot of sense for mall owners, who are willing to consider almost any concept that will generate rent. And for restaurant operators, the prime, central locations many shopping centers offer can be a benefit for their delivery business. That said, there are some ghost kitchen construction costs and considerations involved whenever you convert a commercial space from one purpose to another, especially when the end use will be food service. Here are several to keep in mind:

Infrastructure Intricacies: A commercial kitchen requires a tremendous amount of mechanical infrastructure, and no matter its size will have more water, waste and gas lines installed than many other commercial construction projects. Upgrading existing lines to meet the higher power and water needs of a food prep facility will likely be a necessary – and costly – element of converting a former retail space to a ghost kitchen.

Layout Limitations: The layout of a commercial kitchen is dictated by access points for those same water, waste and gas lines. In an existing space, especially one not originally designed as a commercial kitchen, walls and flooring may have to be torn up in order to create new “stub ups” and “stub outs” in the right positions to connect the planned commercial kitchen equipment and fixtures.

Mechanical Must-Haves: Unless a ghost kitchen is being created in a second-generation restaurant/food service space, the project will probably entail adding the mechanicals that are specific to a full commercial cook line, including the black iron ductwork and fans that tie the kitchen exhaust system to the outside, as well as a fire suppression system. In some cases, the cost of retrofitting a space with these features could make or break a project, so it’s advisable to enlist a general contractor experienced in restaurant kitchen construction to help anticipate and plan for these critical elements.

Whether adding ghost kitchens as tenants will be a successful strategy to help revive flagging malls remains to be seen – and the feasibility of these projects from a construction standpoint will definitely be a factor. But ultimately, the consideration of this type of non-traditional concept is definitely the kind of out-of-the-box thinking needed to help the retail sector regain its footing.

Chuck Taylor, Director of Operations Tel: 847-233-9200 x712 Questions? Comments? You can reach me at CTaylor@eci.build www.EnglewoodConstruction.com

from Hard Hat Chat http://commercialconstructionblog.com/shopping-mall-development-trends-are-ghost-kitchens-the-answer-for-vacant-mall-space/ via Hard Hat Chat from Blogger http://sdeckermike.blogspot.com/2020/02/shopping-mall-development-trends-are.html via blogger

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Commercial Construction 2020 Trends: Cannabis Retail, Senior Housing and Restaurant Construction Lead the Way

Englewood’s business development team attended ICSC’s CenterBuild conference in December, where conversations revolved around retail activity and opportunities in 2020. The event also included ICSC’s 2019 North America Design and Development Awards, where Englewood, along with client American Girl and project partners, was recognized for its work on the American Girl Place store in New York City.

It has become a bit of a tradition that we start off the year for Hard Hat Chat with a look at the commercial real estate trends we think will impact our work in the months ahead. As we kick off 2020, we have a lot of optimism about our industry and the sectors we’re active in, but we also recognize there will be challenges ahead. Here are four commercial construction and commercial real estate trends we expect to shape our business and our industry:

1. The Green Rush Surges On: Between 2018 and 2019, Englewood’s work in the cannabis industry grew by 100%, and we expect that trajectory to continue as more states legalize recreational marijuana use and cannabis firms expand into new markets. As we’ve discussed previously on this blog, there are unique challenges and opportunities associated with work in this arena. We recently weighed in on the topic of cannabis and CRE in a Chicago Construction News article on 2020 commercial real estate trends – here’s an excerpt:

“These projects don’t follow the typical progression because cannabis firms frequently move forward with construction planning while they are still pursuing licensing in order to be up and running when legalization goes into effect,” Taylor said.

“The review and approval process is also much more in-depth, since many municipalities are still interpreting new state laws and deciding what regulations they’ll add at the local level. While the rules vary from state to state, it’s helpful for our clients that we’ve worked on cannabis projects in multiple markets, so we can anticipate questions or issues that are likely to arise at the municipal level.”

2. Senior Living Operators Thinking Long Term: There’s been talk in the senior living sector that construction of brand-new senior communities has caught up to demand, and some media outlets are even saying senior housing is facing a glut. However, we expect senior living construction remodel and refresh projects will continue to be strong in the next decade due to owners’ and operators’ long-term property investment strategies. When we first started working in the senior living space, the bulk of our projects involved updating older properties to compete with the new-construction options coming to market. Now, even with properties that were built or remodeled within the last five years, we have owners coming back to us to make cosmetic updates and reconfigure amenities and common areas as part of the ongoing maintenance of these communities and to keep properties current for the long haul.

3. Retail Developers Will Play All Sides:  Our team just returned from the International Council of Shopping Centers’ CenterBuild conference in Phoenix, where conversations revolved around many of the same topics we’ve been hearing about all year – retail activity being down, using entertainment-based concepts to revitalize traditional malls, and discussions of what to do with vacant mall anchor space. While predicting that retail will continue to struggle to regain its footing in 2020 is nothing new, we do expect the coming year – and the coming decade – will be a time of transformation for the retail sector as developers and brands alike experiment to find a successful formula.

For example, one new strategy we started to see in 2019, which could grow as a trend in 2020, is major mall developers either buying out or partnering with retail concepts and then using those brands to populate their own vacant tenant space. This just goes to show how retail players are exploring their business from all angles and taking a non-traditional approach as they work to stay relevant with consumers.

4. Restaurant Construction Continues To Deliver: Our work with national restaurant brands held steady in 2019, and all signs point to this sector continuing to feed a pipeline of work in the New Year. That will include new-construction projects with brands either expanding their footprints or relocating to better-positioned real estate in current markets, as well as remodel and renovation work for brands refreshing existing restaurants and refining their concepts.

Another interesting restaurant construction trend we are seeing in terms of renovation jobs is restaurant groups reconfiguring back-of-house space to accommodate growth in their delivery and catering business. Many brands are seeing an uptick in revenue from these areas, particularly with the popularity of services such as Uber Eats and Grubhub, and so we are working with them to create separate kitchen and prep areas for delivery and catering orders to keep that function from interfering with service in their main dining room. There’s also new opportunity in the construction of “ghost kitchens” – stand-alone food service locations that are either an extension of an existing restaurant or a unique brand, which are entirely dedicated to fulfilling orders via food delivery apps.

Happy New Year from Englewood Construction! We look forward to our next decade of sharing commercial construction insights and trends with you on Hard Hat Chat. If you want to talk, contact me here.

Chuck Taylor, Director of Operations Tel: 847-233-9200 x712 Questions? Comments? You can reach me at CTaylor@eci.build www.EnglewoodConstruction.com

from Hard Hat Chat http://commercialconstructionblog.com/commercial-construction-2020-trends/ via Hard Hat Chat from Blogger http://sdeckermike.blogspot.com/2020/01/commercial-construction-2020-trends.html via blogger

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Sunday N Test 1

Please do not reply to this email. Need help? contact us. If you have an account with us and wish to unsubscribe from marketing email, visit the manage email page. You may still receive transactional messages from Alaska Airlines. Privacy Notice

Please do not reply to this email. Need help? contact us. If you have an account with us and wish to unsubscribe from marketing email, visit the manage email page. You may still receive transactional messages from Alaska Airlines. Privacy Notice

Please do not reply to this email. Need help? contact us. If you have an account with us and wish to unsubscribe from marketing email, visit the manage email page. You may still receive transactional messages from Alaska Airlines. Privacy Notice

from Hard Hat Chat http://commercialconstructionblog.com/sunday-n-test-1/ via Hard Hat Chat from Blogger http://sdeckermike.blogspot.com/2019/12/sunday-n-test-1.html via blogger

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from Hard Hat Chat http://commercialconstructionblog.com/blog-test-published-test/ via Hard Hat Chat from Blogger http://sdeckermike.blogspot.com/2019/12/blog-test-published-test.html via blogger

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Commercial Construction Industry Trends: The “Highs” and “Lows” that Shaped 2019

With the countdown on to 2020 – and the start of a brand-new decade right around the corner – it’s time for our annual look back at the commercial construction industry “highs” and “lows” from 2019. From positive trends and new business opportunities to ongoing challenges that impact how we do business, here are five factors and industry trends that shaped our work in the past year.

High – Growing Opportunities in the Cannabis Sector

A ‘high’ for Englewood Construction in 2019 was a growing number of opportunities to work with cannabis firms on dispensary and cultivation facility projects.

Pardon the pun, but the biggest “high” for Englewood Construction in 2019 was our ever-expanding portfolio of projects working with cannabis firms on facility needs for growing, storing and dispensing product. Having now partnered with a number of clients on dispensary and cultivation facilities in different states, we’ve become well-versed in navigating the specific considerations that come with these projects – from the learning curve in the local permitting and approval process as municipalities put state-level legislation into action for the first time, to the timing nuances of working with cannabis firms to move their facility plans forward even as they await licensing. We’ve also translated our experience in working with restaurant and retail brands on national rollouts to new partnerships with major cannabis players who are expanding in multiple markets simultaneously.   

It’s been exciting to see the opportunities that have come with the growth of the cannabis industry. And with recreational marijuana now legal in 11 states and Washington D.C. – and more states set to vote on legalization in 2020 – we see the cannabis space as a quickly growing CRE niche that is poised to be the next big wave of boutique retail expansion nationally.

Low – Subcontractors Still Struggle for Manpower

I probably sound like a broken record at this point, but the ongoing commercial construction labor shortage – which we’ve been talking about for several years now – continued to impact our projects in 2019. The hard truth is most subcontractors have more work coming their way than they are staffed to handle, regardless of their trade or market. And since they are operating at capacity, subs can charge premium pricing and be choosy about the jobs they take, which directly impacts commercial construction budgeting as well as scheduling.

On the upside, the reason we’re feeling the effects of the manpower shortage is because there’s a truly robust construction pipeline out there. Even as the labor situation improves, it’s being outpaced by a high commercial construction activity level across the country. While those dynamics certainly pose challenges, it’s always a positive when there’s plenty of work out there for us to chase.

High – CRE Cross Pollinates

At RECon 2019 in Las Vegas, where Englewood hosted a cocktail party, CRE professionals were thinking more openly about commercial property uses.

It’s been interesting in the last year to see CRE landlords thinking differently and more openly about property use. One place our team noticed this was while attending this year’s International Council of Shopping Centers’ RECon Expo in Las Vegas. In the past, RECon was pretty much dominated by retail, with just a smattering of reps from restaurant and other sectors. But this year, ‘inclusion’ seemed to be the name of the game, with ICSC and RECon reaching out to other sectors that are leasing mall space and focusing much more on hospitality, restaurant and entertainment. This receptiveness to other uses for commercial properties is indicative of the CRE industry as a whole, with more and more owners and developers thinking creatively and intentionally diversifying their mix of tenants to create a vibrant environment at commercial developments.

Low – Online and Bricks and Mortar Duke it Out

Over in the retail sector, online brands are continuing to beat up bricks and mortar companies. Online is holding onto the upper hand in that competition, and in 2019 we saw even more major brands shuttering and leaving behind vacant retail space.

But, the retail market is trying to right itself to a certain degree. Online and bricks-and-mortar brands alike are discovering the happy medium between e-commerce and in-store experiences: there are some products consumers are perfectly happy buying or replenishing online, but there are still things they want to touch, feel and shop for in a physical store.

This all feeds into the ongoing evolution of the retail sector. While shopping centers are focusing more on hospitality, restaurant and entertainment offerings to revitalize the mall experience and fill empty storefronts, we’re seeing more clicks-to-bricks momentum – and more construction activity from traditionally online-only brands – as e-tailers see the value of having some form of physical location. 

High – Celebrating 10 years of Hard Hat Chat

Back in September, we celebrated the 10th anniversary of Hard Hat Chat and took a look back at some of the topics we’ve discussed over the years. The fact that we’ve continued to find plenty to write about each month – with 149 published posts and counting – speaks volumes about the depth and complexity of the commercial construction industry and how it continues to evolve. As we look ahead to starting a new decade in 2020, we know there will be no shortage of commercial construction news, trends, insights and ideas to share with you, our Hard Hat Chat readers.

On that note, be sure to check back with us in December as we wrap up 2019 with a post sharing the trends and insights our team heard about while attending the International Council of Shopping Centers’ annual CenterBuild Conference.

If you want to talk more, contact me here

Chuck Taylor, Director of Operations Tel: 847-233-9200 x712 Questions? Comments? You can reach me at CTaylor@eci.build www.EnglewoodConstruction.com

from Hard Hat Chat http://commercialconstructionblog.com/commercial-construction-industry-trends-the-highs-and-lows-that-shaped-2019/ via Hard Hat Chat from Blogger http://sdeckermike.blogspot.com/2019/12/commercial-construction-industry-trends.html via blogger

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Flagship Store Retail Construction: 3 Reasons Brands Still Build in a Flagship Location

With our firm’s long track record in retail construction, we’ve witnessed firsthand the ebb and flow of activity across this sector over the years. So when I came across an article recently asking if  “flagship stores are losing their shine”, it gave me pause.

It’s true the retail mix among flagship stores in prime locations is changing. Not too long ago, premier shopping districts like Chicago’s Magnificent Mile or New York’s Fifth Avenue were lined with not only luxury brands like Tiffany, Cartier and Ferragamo, but also large-scale versions of mall stores, from Gap and Ann Taylor to Eddie Bauer. Today, many of those traditional mall retailers have closed their flagships.

Instead, we are seeing new players setting up shop in these spaces – like the mega four-story Starbucks roastery set to open along the Mag Mile next month. This goes to show that while the brands undertaking flagship construction projects might be changing, the appeal of these locations holds true. Here are three reasons our clients decide to create a flagship presence: 

1. To Introduce New Concepts

When it comes to debuting new concepts, a flagship store can be a smart strategy for introducing the business model to consumers. One of the most high-profile examples of this was when Apple unveiled its Apple Store in the early 2000s. Today, these stores are as ubiquitous as mainstream apparel brands, but at the time they were a novel retail experience. Apple’s first flagship store was in Chicago on Michigan Avenue, where tourists and locals alike quickly became familiar with – and grew to love – the unique environment it offered to interact with the brand’s latest products. 

A more recent example of this was speculation in Chicago about cannabis operators scouting space for dispensary locations on the Mag Mile in advance of recreational marijuana being legalized in Illinois as of Jan. 1, 2020. Ultimately, proposed municipal guidelines and zoning rules for recreational marijuana sales in the city of Chicago will probably prohibit a dispensary on the Mag Mile, but it made sense that cannabis firms initially set their sights on a high-traffic, high-profile location where they can engage with a large number of consumers and introduce them to their store format and product.

2. To Market a Brand

For some brands, opening a flagship location is as much about marketing as it is about sales. One way we have seen clients successfully leverage the marketing power of a high-profile flagship space is to signal their arrival in a new market – especially foreign brands making their debut in the U.S. For example, when our client Zara, a Spanish fashion brand, first came to the states, it immediately opened flagship locations on Fifth Avenue in New York and Michigan Avenue in Chicago – a store Englewood built out – before it opened stores in more traditional shopping malls. These first locations served as an announcement of Zara’s presence, and started building buzz and brand awareness from day one.

Spanish retailer Zara used flagship stores like its Michigan Avenue location, built by Englewood, to introduce itself in the U.S.

On another marketing note, many cell phone carriers now have flagship stores in premier retail districts across the country. Besides being an opportunity for consumers to check out the newest phones and gadgets, these stores, with their multi-story presence and prominent signage, also put brands front and center with huge levels of daily foot and car traffic.

3. To Create an Experience

One of the original functions of a flagship store that still holds true today is that they are an excellent way to immerse a customer in a brand experience. A quintessential example of this is our long-time client American Girl. Our very first project with the brand was to relocate its original Chicago flagship store to Michigan Avenue in 2008. Since then we’ve built and/or renovated all of the American Girl Place stores across the country, including the brand’s recently reimagined New York City location at 75 Rockefeller Plaza. Each of these stores goes well beyond straightforward shopping to also give children an opportunity to connect with the brand on a deeper level – from an American Girl Salon experience with services for dolls and customers alike, to an interactive Create Your Own Design Studio and even an American Girl Café where kids can dine with their dolls.

The experiential factor of a retail location is something we see reinvented time and again as brands seek new ways for customers to connect with their products, from the Levi’s flagship store in New York’s Time’s Square offering on-site tailors to add custom trim and patches to customers’ blue jeans, to the new Michigan Avenue Starbucks that will have interactive tours and onsite roasting that will let coffee aficionados strengthen their relationship with the Seattle-based brand.

The Future of Flagships

Thinking about the future of flagship retail, we’re seeing clients consider them in new ways. We’ve worked with clients to investigate bringing recreational concepts such as a climbing gym to these locations, and we’re also hearing about more value-based brands, such as Bloomingdale’s Outlets, interested in these high-profile sites. Like every other niche of the retail sector, the flagship store landscape is evolving, and we’re sure to see many more creative interpretations of how to best utilize these spaces.

Chuck Taylor, Director of Operations Tel: 847-233-9200 x712 Questions? Comments? You can reach me at CTaylor@eci.build www.EnglewoodConstruction.com

from Hard Hat Chat http://commercialconstructionblog.com/flagship-store-construction-3-reasons-brands-still-build-in-a-flagship-location/ via Hard Hat Chat from Blogger http://sdeckermike.blogspot.com/2019/10/flagship-store-retail-construction-3.html via blogger

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Happy Anniversary Hard Hat Chat: Celebrating 10 Years of Commercial Construction Trends, News, Insights, and Conversation

In 2009, amid the business challenges of the Great Recession, our company made the decision to start a blog as an outlet to share commercial construction trends, insights, news, and observations on a variety of topics. If you had told me then that we’d still be publishing Hard Hat Chat a decade later – and that it would become an award-winning blog – I probably wouldn’t have believed you. But here we are, with 147 blog posts under our belt, celebrating Hard Hat Chat’s 10th anniversary.

In light of this milestone, I looked back at some of our earlier posts. And you know what I found? We got it wrong…well, kinda. In one of our first posts, we talked about how the commercial construction industry hasn’t changed that much. But after reading through 10 years of blog posts, I realized it has changed – and so has Englewood Construction. Here’s what stood out to me:

Englewood’s retail portfolio includes experiential concepts such as American Girl Place in Chicago.

The Retail Evolution: Shopping Mall, Flagship Store & Big Box Construction The past decade brought more ups and downs for the retail sector than the escalators we installed in malls. Just like how retail brands and CRE owners and developers learned to evolve with the shifting landscape, we also adjusted our business. Our firm’s roots may be in traditional mall tenant build-outs, but over these 10 years we’ve expanded to other retail work — from ground-up big box construction to experiential flagship stores. Yet, I did get a sense of déjà vu when reading this 2009 post, Is The Baby Being Thrown Out With The Bathwater In Big Box Construction, which discussed how the shuttering of big box space brands like Circuit City and Linens ‘N Things were creating an opportunity for those stores to be repurposed. Switch out the store names to Toys R Us and Sears, and it’s the same conversation we’re having about the retail sector today!

Riding the Silver Tsunami: Senior Housing Construction In the decade we’ve been publishing Hard Hat Chat, the Baby Boomer generation has created an unprecedented demand for senior living options. Looking back to when we dipped our toes into senior housing construction, our blog posts focused on remodeling work at existing facilities. Today, echoing the continued demand in the senior housing sector, we’re seeing even more activity and opportunities with senior living developers and operators – from adaptive reuse projects to ground-up development.

In 2016, Hard Hat Chat discussed how to keep residents happy during a senior housing renovation.

A Menu of Success: Restaurant Construction When it comes to restaurants, we’ve seen – and built – it all, from the fast-casual brands that were booming during the economic downturn to, more recently, unique experiential concepts that are as much an entertainment destination as a restaurant. While the restaurant concepts we work on have become more complex, the same basic principles still hold true for restaurant construction success – delivering projects on time and on budget will always be a priority for our clients.

The Harry Caray’s 7th Inning Stretch and Chicago Sports Museum Englewood built in Chicago serves up an entertainment experience.

An Ounce of Prevention One thing we didn’t see coming in the early days of Hard Hat Chat was the booming demand we would have from clients for facility maintenance services. What started off as a couple of small favors for clients who needed help with minor facility maintenance projects has blossomed into a pretty substantial part of our business that today offers planned, preventative and emergency facility maintenance. And if you’re a frequent reader of this blog, then you know our clients think it makes a lot of sense to partner with the general contractor that constructed their facility to maintain it, too.

CRE Trends: Green Rush Ahead? Of course, this industry will only continue to evolve as brand-new opportunities drive activity in commercial real estate. We touched on one of the newest CRE trends impacting our industry in our last blog post – how the legalization of recreational marijuana could create the next big national wave of boutique retail expansion. As we do with any new client or sector we work with, we’re taking a deep dive into the nuances of the cannabis industry and applying our experiences and insights from states where legalized recreational marijuana is old hat to the needs of clients who are entering this new territory. Stay tuned to our blog for even more updates on this “high”ly engaging topic.

Recreational marijuana dispensaries could drive a wave of boutique retail expansion.

So while re-reading our past 100 Hard Hat Chat blog posts did remind me of the many changes we’ve gone through, there is one thing that’s remained constant over the last 10 years, and that’s the relationships that are so important to the business we do every day – whether with our clients, our employees, our subcontractors or other service providers. It’s a theme that pops up over and over again in a decade’s worth of blog posts: the people we work with every day are the foundation of this company. We’re grateful for all of them, just as we’re grateful for everyone who’s been a faithful Hard Hat Chat reader over the years. Thank you for reading, and here’s to the next 10 years!

Chuck Taylor, Director of Operations Tel: 847-233-9200 x712 Questions? Comments? You can reach me at CTaylor@eci.build www.EnglewoodConstruction.com

from Hard Hat Chat http://commercialconstructionblog.com/hard-hat-chat-10-years-of-commercial-construction-trends-news-insights-observations/ via Hard Hat Chat from Blogger http://sdeckermike.blogspot.com/2019/09/happy-anniversary-hard-hat-chat.html via blogger

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Legalized Marijuana: Opportunities and Impact for Commercial Real Estate and Construction

A version of this post was published in Illinois Real Estate Journal as a byline article from Englewood Construction.

Earlier this summer, Englewood Construction’s home state of Illinois passed a bill making it the 11th state in the U.S. to legalize the use of recreational marijuana. Given that our firm already has experience working with clients on medicinal and recreational marijuana dispensary construction projects in other states, we know firsthand that this legislation will quickly lead to new activity in the local commercial real estate and construction landscape. In fact, we are currently in discussions with clients about cannabis-related projects in Illinois.

Like any CRE sector, the cannabis industry comes with its own set of nuances for planning and executing construction projects – particularly since it is relatively new and highly regulated. Here are our top five tips for successfully navigating this arena, based on our experience with clients active in the business:

1. Think Nationally, Build Locally

As more states adopt laws legalizing recreational weed, marijuana companies are looking to get licensing and mobilize in those states quickly. Because of the staggered geography and timing at play, cannabis firms are realizing the advantages in hiring a national commercial construction partner with the capacity and resources to partner with them on multiple facility projects across the country — as well as expertise in understanding and adapting to differences in regulations and requirements in each local market.

This is similar to the national rollouts Englewood has worked on with retail and restaurant brands, where there’s real value for our clients in tapping one construction partner that understands their business in and out, can replicate their concept wherever they are opening new locations, and has a roster of pre-qualified subcontractors nationwide to bring a project to fruition. Plus, having worked in many states and major cities, we’re familiar with the local construction landscape and can help anticipate regional considerations for labor, permitting and approvals. All of this means the construction end of opening new locations becomes a well-oiled process – a level of efficiency that is equally beneficial to marijuana companies entering multiple new states.   

2. Timing Is Everything

Englewood is no stranger to hitting a firm opening date for a new location, which is critical for cannabis companies opening in new markets. First of all, the time frame for leasing and building out a space – whether a dispensary or cultivation facility – is often dictated by when new laws around marijuana usage go into effect.

Take Illinois, where recreational marijuana dispensaries can open for business as of January 1, 2020. That means companies that want to be among the first to open in the market need to start now to not only get licensed, but also negotiate lease deals, enlist their construction partner and start building out their facility.

Timing also comes into play because if a marijuana company does not complete its facility by its scheduled date, it stands to lose its state license – potentially an investment of several million dollars. As an example, Englewood was just asked to take over a dispensary build-out project in Ohio because the original contractor fell behind, leaving the operator in danger of losing its license. This underscores the importance of hiring a seasoned general contractor that not only has a proven track record completing jobs on schedule, but also a strong network of reliable subcontractor resources that can be counted on to meet the project timeline.

3. Learning Curve for Municipalities

As states adopt new laws around the cannabis industry, there is certain to be a learning curve in the approval and permitting process for new facilities as municipalities work to fully understand state regulations as well as what additional guidelines they can apply at the local level.

That makes it exceedingly important that everyone on the project team – from the owner/developer/landlord to the architect and construction firm – be well-versed in the rules and requirements around marijuana dispensaries and cultivation facilities. Not only do we need to be able to build these facilities to both the client’s and the state’s specifications, but we also need to be able to assist and work with municipalities as they learn and implement the state regulation. It’s also helpful for partners on the project to have previous experience with similar projects in order to anticipate questions or issues that are likely to arise and head them off if possible.

Marijuana dispensary projects have similarities to traditional retail and “medtail” build-outs, but also entail special considerations and features for ensuring a secure environment for storing, displaying and selling the product.

4. Security, Mechanicals and More

Any project might have unique construction considerations, but with cannabis dispensaries, we’ve been ahead of the game because these projects have many similarities to the storefront build-outs we regularly complete for our retail clients. That said, state regulations do add some additional layers to the nuts and bolts of these projects. Security features, for one, are a major difference between a dispensary and a ‘typical’ retail store. These facilities are designed to ensure a secure environment for everything from receiving deliveries to storing, displaying and selling the product.

In terms of cultivation facilities, contractors also need to understand and plan for the extensive mechanicals that go into these locations. These large facilities require specialty systems for artificial light, watering and humidification. They use an inordinate amount of water and power, and so the appropriate infrastructure must be in place to support them.

5. Good News for the Local Retail Landscape

In June’s Hard Hat Chat post, which shared our takeaways from ICSC RECon, we noted that most retail developers and landlords say nothing is off the table when it comes to filling vacant space or bringing new traffic to retail centers. As more states pass legislation legalizing recreational marijuana, we anticipate much of the stigma associated with it will start to fade and, eventually, many of our retail clients will consider cannabis companies a viable, profitable opportunity to fill space. Just as the retail sector has evolved with the effects of ecommerce and the exit of many major anchor stores and national brands, so too will it adjust to match the demand and opportunities with this new segment.

Chuck Taylor, Director of Operations Tel: 847-233-9200 x712 Questions? Comments? You can reach me at CTaylor@eci.build www.EnglewoodConstruction.com

from Hard Hat Chat http://commercialconstructionblog.com/planning-and-executing-marijuana-dispensary-construction-projects/ via Hard Hat Chat from Blogger http://sdeckermike.blogspot.com/2019/08/legalized-marijuana-opportunities-and.html via blogger

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3 Critical Questions to Ask Before Starting an Adaptive Reuse Commercial Construction Project

This column from Chuck Taylor, Englewood Construction’s director of operations, was originally published by GlobeSt.com.

An adaptive reuse construction project, such as the conversion of this former grocery store into Englewood’s headquarters in Lemont, Ill., involves extra planning and special considerations.

While it’s always thrilling to create a new building, some of the most rewarding construction projects to work on involve the adaptive reuse of an existing property. I love the process of taking a building that has outlived its original usefulness, and giving it new life for a new purpose. 

Englewood Construction is in the midst of two adaptive reuse projects right now – one a former meatpacking facility in Chicago that we’re updating for office, retail or restaurant use, and the other a former convent we’ll be converting into a senior living community. These are only the latest in a number of adaptive reuse projects we’ve handled over the years – including our own corporate headquarters in Lemont, Ill., which was a third-generation grocery store before we converted it into our offices. In all these cases, and with any adaptive reuse job, there are special considerations to think about beyond what comes into play for ground-up new-construction or even renovation of an existing space for a similar purpose (like retail to retail). Here are a few important questions to keep in mind:

What will it take to make the existing space work for its new purpose?

One of the first questions in any adaptive reuse project is what modifications need to be made to the existing floor plan and structure so the space works for its new purpose. There’s often a lot of creativity in this process, not only from the client envisioning the potential of the space and the architect coming up with the design, but also from the general contractor in figuring out how to make that design a reality and anticipating what challenges and costs are involved – some of which could potentially make or break the project.

With the former meatpacking facility, we’re making significant modifications to the building’s floor plates, such as increasing the existing 11-foot ceiling clearances – which were appropriate for the building’s original use, but are too low for the expectations of today’s commercial space tenants. Because the client brought us onto this project during the early planning stages, we were able to collaborate to ensure this was feasible, and also value-engineer the design.

That said, we’ve had other projects where the modifications to make the space work were just too much for the budget. For example, we did some budgeting for a climbing gym concept that was investigating a location in the former food court of a high-rise on Chicago’s Magnificent Mile. Ultimately, the costs related to removing escalators and infilling atrium openings were higher than the client anticipated and killed the deal. This goes to show just how valuable it is to involve an experienced GC in an adaptive use project early enough to provide realistic pricing intel.

2. What modifications or updates need to be made to building systems?

Most adaptive use projects will require at least some updates to building systems because you are starting with an older property. That was certainly the case with our Englewood office. Because the previous owner didn’t keep up with a regular scheduled facility maintenance program, none of the building’s rooftop HVAC units were in condition to be reused, so they had to be replaced.

Or, there may have been code changes since the property was originally built, requiring updates in mechanicals or building systems. This is especially true for things like fire suppression sprinkler systems. With our convent conversion, an addition built in the 1980s has sprinklers, but the original building does not. Because of the change in use, we are required to install sprinklers throughout the entire building – the biggest infrastructure line item for the entire project.

Other building system updates might be necessary to meet the future use of the space. Restaurants, for example, require higher capacity for electrical, water and waste than an office or retail space. For our meatpacking facility project, the client opted to upgrade the capacity of the electrical, water and waste systems so the building is ready to accommodate a variety of possible future tenants – including a restaurant.

3. What elements can – and should – be preserved?

While not every adaptive reuse project is in a historically significant or landmark-status building, many are. If that’s the case, there will be a whole additional level of review by the appropriate landmark authority before work begins, and the entire project team should have a thorough understanding of which original features are landmark-protected and must be preserved.

Other adaptive reuse projects aren’t necessarily in historic buildings, but are located in an area where the community is committed to preserving the original character of the neighborhood. In these cases, keeping – or recreating – certain original elements is often a goal of the project. For our meatpacking facility conversion, the building’s original façade was removed years ago because it was structurally unsound. The new façade we are building echos the original design and is in line with the prominent architecture of the neighborhood.

And in some cases, original features can be saved for practical reasons because they fit nicely with the new purpose of an adaptive reuse project. An example of this is the existing chapel at our convent conversion project. Our client typically includes a chapel in all of its senior living properties, so it makes sense to keep this space as-is, with a few cosmetic updates.

An adaptive reuse project is a creative blend of old and new. By working closely with experienced project partners, including a knowledgeable general commercial contractor, it’s possible to find the balance between an exciting vision for a project and the practical considerations for bringing that vision to life.

Chuck Taylor, Director of Operations Tel: 847-233-9200 x712 Questions? Comments? You can reach me at CTaylor@eci.build www.EnglewoodConstruction.com

from Hard Hat Chat http://commercialconstructionblog.com/starting-an-adaptive-reuse-commercial-construction-project/ via Hard Hat Chat from Blogger http://sdeckermike.blogspot.com/2019/07/3-critical-questions-to-ask-before.html via blogger

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What Happens in Vegas, Doesn’t Stay in Vegas: Retail Construction Trends from ICSC RECon 2019

from Blogger http://sdeckermike.blogspot.com/2019/06/what-happens-in-vegas-doesnt-stay-in.html via blogger

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Commercial Construction Delivery Methods: 3 Times To Go With A Negotiated Bid

Any long-time readers of Hard Hat Chat have probably picked up on the fact that I’m a big fan of the negotiated bid.  Our firm takes pride in being a true partner to our clients, and we believe a great way to elevate that client relationship is to work on a negotiated basis – a process where the client hires a general contractor early-on in the project after agreeing on general conditions and a contractor fee. The GC then works with the client to budget the job based on pricing from subcontractor partners.   Of course, like any national commercial contractor we also do our share of work on a competitive bid basis where construction firms submit bids for a project based on a set of plans provided by the client, and the client subsequently awards the project based on those bids. While there are valid reasons a client might go the competitive bid route, there are many more scenarios where the negotiated delivery method is better for all parties. Here are just three:

The Project Is A Brand-New Concept

It’s always exciting to partner with a client on a new concept or prototype. Whether it’s a completely refreshed design for an existing restaurant brand or an entirely new business model, such as a unique idea for a family entertainment venue, we love working with clients to figure out how to make their design intent become a reality as efficiently as possible. But with a brand-new design, there are inevitably going to be unknowns that don’t come up until construction is underway, as well as design changes to make sure the finished project matches the client’s vision. That makes the negotiated delivery method a smart choice for any “first time” project, especially if it’s a prototype that will eventually be rolled out in other locations. Working on a negotiated basis for the initial build-out puts the GC in the best position to work out any kinks in the prototype plans that become evident once construction starts, without it resulting in a costly change order. Additionally, since the client is typically privy to subcontractor bids with a negotiated project, they get a clear understanding of the cost ranges for specific elements – much more so than a competitive bid, where bidding GCs might undercut pricing on certain trades in order to win the job. That pricing intel is extremely valuable when the client then goes on to build the same prototype in different markets armed with a reasonable expectation of costs.

It’s A Multi-Phase Project

Many large or complex construction jobs are budgeted and built out in phases. But rather than award these projects to GCs in phases via a competitive bid, clients should make the most of their general contractor relationship by working on a negotiated basis. There are several benefits to doing so. First, the GC becomes a point of consistency for the project, helping ensure the client’s design intent and brand standards are maintained from start to finish. Also, a negotiated approach means the GC can identify efficiencies across all phases, whether it’s cost savings from having one trade bid and perform work for multiple phases at once, or scheduling considerations such as anticipating conflicts between work happening at different project stages. By not being locked into a competitive bid package, the GC has the flexibility to look at the big picture and make recommendations to the client taking into account the entire scope of the project.

Project Plans Are Not Fully Finalized

We get it – there are any number of things that can come up prohibiting the professional services team creating fully finalized plans. Maybe the lease deal is taking longer than expected, or maybe there are design changes requested during municipal approvals. We understand the client might still need to move forward with their GC as some details are ironed out, so as not to miss a projected completion or opening date. But by going out for a competitive bid with “design development” (DD) drawings, rather than final plans, clients can really get hurt by cost overruns. That’s because in a competitive bid, GCs are only planning and pricing for exactly what’s in the drawings – anything different or beyond those drawings will mean additional costs via change orders and likely delays. An example of this was a restaurant/hotel project in downtown Chicago our team was asked to bid by a previous client. We told the developer/owner the plans weren’t complete enough for us to feel comfortable moving forward and declined to participate in their competitive bid, so the project eventually went to another contractor. Fast forward several months and we heard that not only was the project shut down for several long periods as details in the drawings were finalized, but that it also ended up seriously overbudget due to changes in the design from the documents that were originally used for the competitive bid. A better solution in this case would have been for the client to work with a construction partner on a negotiated basis. With the GC’s fees and general conditions costs agreed on up front, the GC would have been in a position to budget and schedule the project concurrent to plans being finalized – and with full client input.    While a negotiated bid isn’t always the route our clients go, I can’t say enough about the transparency, open communication and flexibility it affords. And all those things add up to a great client-contractor relationship, which is always key to a successful project.

from Hard Hat Chat http://commercialconstructionblog.com/commercial-construction-delivery-methods-3-times-to-go-with-a-negotiated-bid/ via Hard Hat Chat from Blogger http://sdeckermike.blogspot.com/2019/04/commercial-construction-delivery.html via blogger

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Customer Relationship Management: Why Good Relationships Are Good Business in Commercial Construction

Most people think of commercial construction as a physical, “bricks and sticks” industry. But if you ask me, commercial construction is first and foremost about relationships. After all, the strongest foundation you can give any commercial construction project is a solid partnership between the client and the commercial contractor. That’s why at Englewood Construction, we work hard at building relationships at every phase of business – starting with our business development efforts and continuing across multiple touchpoints with current and prospective clients. Here are three examples of great customer relationship management practices:

Opening New Doors: 

Growing a business often entails thinking outside the box about where and how to mine opportunities, so having an extensive network of relationships to tap into is incredibly important in making new connections that lead to new business. To that end, we recently added to Englewood’s business development team with the hire of Casey Urlacher, who is the current mayor of Mettawa, Ill., a former Arena Football Player and the brother of NFL Hall of Famer Brian Urlacher.

At first glance, Casey’s resume is a bit unorthodox for a commercial construction company. But looking deeper, Casey’s experiences spanning business, professional sports, local government and even several restaurant and real estate development ventures have given him valuable assets that readily translate to commercial construction success: a robust personal network and skill at creating and maintaining great connections. Plus, there’s a lot of crossover between the world of professional athletics, where he already has strong in-roads, and the restaurant industry – a commercial construction sector where Englewood has a proven track record, especially with fine-dining and sports-based concepts such as the Chicago Sports Museum and Harry Caray’s 7th Inning Stretch.

Casey is a great example of why it’s important not to pass on a great hire just because their commercial construction experience isn’t typical. Think creatively about what employees bring to the table – particularly with the current tight hiring market in this industry.

Building Long-Term Partnerships:

Building good customer relationships is important not only in opening up new doors and opportunities, but also in establishing long-term connections that can be incredibly fruitful. When I was a young laborer, I was working a project at 900 N. Michigan Avenue on Chicago’s Magnificent Mile when one day I met the retailer’s construction manager and we hit it off immediately. We kept in touch as I moved to the project management side of the business and he moved around to positions with several national retailers. He’s remained a client for more than 28 years – spanning projects with at least six different brands he’s worked with in that time.

While my personal relationship with this client was one reason Englewood continued to be his contractor of choice across different brands, another factor was that Englewood repeatedly executed quality work time and again. The proof is in the pudding, and there’s nothing like a series of smooth and successful projects to serve as the basis for a long-term partnership. It’s also important to nurture those connections. Simple steps like reaching out to thank a client you’ve worked with for more than 10 years, or putting in a call to check in even when there isn’t a job on the table, can go a long way toward building goodwill and staying top of mind.

Expanding Existing Customer Relationships:

And sometimes a good relationship can become a better relationship. One way we have expanded existing client relationships is through Englewood’s Facility Management group, which we launched several years ago. We’ve found that one of the benefits clients appreciate most about using Englewood for facilities management is that they can turn this function over to a trusted partner – a contractor with which they already have a relationship and high comfort level. And for us, it’s yet another avenue for us to deepen a client relationship by serving them in a different way.

In fact, we were recently tapped for facilities maintenance work by a high-end day care provider who has been a client for more than 10 years. Our past work with this firm entailed building out new locations for them across the country, so when they decided to outsource facility maintenance they were happy to know we also offered those services. Now, we’re handling Facility Management and maintenance for a large percentage of this long-standing client’s Midwest fleet.

Ideally, a general commercial construction contractor isn’t just a vendor or service provider, but instead a true partner a client relies on to guide them through the construction process. No matter how it begins or where it takes us, it’s the relationship at the heart of it all that leads to success.

from Hard Hat Chat http://commercialconstructionblog.com/customer-relationship-management-why-good-relationships-are-good-business-in-commercial-construction/ via Hard Hat Chat from Blogger http://sdeckermike.blogspot.com/2019/03/customer-relationship-management-why.html via blogger