Strong Subcontractor Base Key to Design-Build Success

Whether a construction company is expanding into a new geographical territory or a new market, the key to success is establishing a strong, reliable subcontractor base. Attendees at the Design-Build Institute of America’s (DBIA) 2010 Conference next month will learn how to build this critical base thanks to Centennial’s Gary Sylvester and Scott McGrew.   

Overseeing Centennial's Design-Build department, Gary, design build manager and Scott, senior project general manager, both have a great deal of experience with this construction delivery method.

Gary and Scott will identify helpful tools to find qualified subcontractors, discuss meeting minority requirements and describe how to build lasting long term relationships with reliable subcontractors. They'll also cover introducing a new subcontractor to Design-Build processes and procedures as well as the terms and conditions of the Design-Build contract as they impact the subcontract. Gary and Scott will include discussions regarding subcontractor budget pricing, final fixed pricing and early teaming as well as the impact of LEED Certification as it relates to the subcontractor’s requirements.

Centennial is also excited to be an exhibitor and the Diamond Sponsor of the DBIA Conference in Las Vegas. In addition to our company booth, we're hosting a special booth where attendees can “Relax Their Backlog” with professional neck massages, so stop by and say hi!

Recycled Structural Composite Bridges Media Day

Construction is almost finished on the first ever recycled structural composite railroad bridges! Centennial built these “plastic” bridges at Fort Eustis, VA for the U.S. Army. On May 27th, we’re holding a media day at the base to unveil the bridges. If you’re a member of the media interested in attending, please email me at dcarrithers@cce-inc.com.

Stay tuned for more photos from the event!

Centennial Works to Grow Design-Build with DBIA

On March 15th, Lisa Washington the executive director of the Design Build Institute of America (DBIA) met with key Centennial people. After a tour of the new offices in Reston, Virginia we sat down to talk about the industry. First, she thanked Centennial for the years of ongoing support and also for our recent agreement to be the first Diamond Level sponsor of the national meeting.

At the core of the conversation was the fact that design-build and the approaches and processes it uses needs to grow beyond just large and new construction, and can really help in renovation, repair and rehabilitation. We talked about the fact that Job Order Contracting is a form of design-build (we call it design-build light). We also discussed the need to grow the understanding and awareness of design-build within the subcontracting community as well. We agreed that Centennial, DBIA and the underlying values of design-build support the growth of performance-based construction, quality results and sustainable practices.

Federal Facilities' Green Efforts Require Collaboration

On February 22nd-24th, I attended a Military Construction Summit in Vienna, VA and there were a wide range of topics covered. This well-attended summit was focused on US Military Construction efforts for all branches of the Department of Defense. One session was headed up by Melissa Gallagher-Rogers Director, Government Sector of the US Green Building Council and she went over a pretty standard LEED and USGBC presentation. The questions by the audience were focused around the standard “how do you justify costs to do green?” or “what are the costs to get a building LEED certified”? As she was talking I realized that this idea of collaboration between owner, designer, constructor, end user, subcontractors, etc. to come up with the most green and sustainable solution will not really work with a restrictive and divided contracting method like design-bid-build.

So I raised my hand and asked Melissa, “Based on the fact that sustainable building approaches – both for new and existing buildings – require tons of communications, collaboration, sharing and flexibility, what is the USGBC preferred method of contracting on federal and public funded facilities?” After a few minutes of back and forth clarification questions the response was “we have not really looked at that point, and I can’t answer it.” So I raised the fact that construction contracting methods of design-build on new buildings and Job Order Contracting on existing buildings really favors the tenets, approaches and processes of LEED.

I challenged the group to understand that for the end product to be the best, greenest, and most sustainable solution there needs to be open, two-way collaboration. Make sure your contracting method allows for this. To apply pre-World War II contracting methods to 21st Century demands might not make sense. In the end, green efforts require relationships that are structured as open, win-win-win focused.

Centennial is Giving a Fish Hatchery a Facelift

Private John Allen National Fish Hatchery in Tupelo, Miss., is scheduled to get several major improvements, thanks to stimulus funds.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has awarded a contract for $976,807 to Centennial Contractors Enterprises of Reston, Va., in funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, popularly known as stimulus funds. The hatchery improvements include a new office / visitor contact station, repairs to the historic manager’s residence that is used by the public, and a new well and pump to provide water to raise imperiled fish species.

Ricky Campbell, the hatchery manager said, "This multi-part project is going to make a big difference in how the fish hatchery does its job, and in the way we interact with the public. In addition, the nearly $1 million contract is going to be felt right here, benefitting the local economy. The majority of the contract will go to a new office / visitor contact station on the grounds of the hatchery. The office building now being used for visitors and school groups has suffered from structural damage and is no longer large enough or dependable enough for the hatchery’s needs."

Established in 1901, Private John Allen National Fish Hatchery is named after the local Congressman who gave a tongue-in-cheek speech in Congress arguing for funding for the hatchery, which included: “thousands and millions of unborn fish are clamoring to this Congress today for an opportunity to be hatched at the Tupelo hatchery.” It’s located in downtown Tupelo, one of the only fish hatcheries in an urban setting.

For more information: http://www.fws.gov/pvtjohnallen/