Commercial & Corporate Archives - ��ý Construction

Eyes in the Sky: How drones support risk management on construction sites

nisaschmitz — Wed, 20 May 2026 16:58:50 +0000

Publication: , May/June 2026

On most construction sites, risk often hides in blind spots — on rooftops, behind façades, and within small misalignments that lead to costly rework or litigation. Contractors are increasingly turning to drones, not as a marketing tool, but as a component of their risk management strategy to reshape how projects are documented, monitored, and protected. Aside from capturing images, drones can also generate defensible data, reduce exposure, and provide visibility that traditional methods cannot match.

For many firms, the shift is deliberate. ��ý Construction’s drone program sits squarely within its risk management department.

“��ý’s drone program lives in our risk management department because its primary function is to to support our people and construction operations to drive safer and higher quality outcomes,” said Charles Wilson, vice president of risk management at ��ý, a member of multiple AGC chapters. “Given the increased demand for drone flights for safety, quality, and production needs, it made financial sense to invest in our own drone program.”

Data Collection

Drones generate measurable, timestamped, and verifiable data that can stand up in disputes, audits, and claims. Contractors using drones rely on 2D maps, 3D models, and geospatially accurate imagery to create precise project conditions. These datasets allow teams to quantify earthwork, verify installations, and compare progress against design without stepping foot in a hazardous area. Traditional inspections often require ladders, lifts, or scaffolding. Drones offer a safer alternative and allow teams to capture detailed data without putting people in harm’s way. In addition, drones give access to remote stakeholders who are not on-site every day but can sometimes hold up decision-making processes if they cannot see the reality on site.

“The amount of data collected in a short flight surpasses the amount that a person inspecting an installation can provide on their own,” said Wilson. “Anytime we can eliminate the need for a person to work at an elevated position is a win.”

Beyond safety, contractors can also document site conditions daily, creating a record that can resolve disputes before they escalate. Matt Daly, CMO for , an AGC of California and TEXO member, has hundreds of stories from contractors who have saved money because of their drone programs.

“Giving contractors one source of truth for what is happening on site is massively useful,” said Daly. “One contractor avoided a $250,000 delay claim by using drone imagery to prove materials were on site when claimed, invalidating allegations. Another contractor had a $45,000 backcharge withdrawn because aerial overlays proved that a driveway slab matched the plan.”

By providing high-frequency, sitewide visibility, drones enable remote owners, engineers, and inspectors to verify progress, assess conditions, and make faster decisions. This reduces information delays. In addition, consistent aerial data can help teams identify issues before they become costly problems.

FAA Regulations and Airspace

Construction drone operations are governed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and compliance is a critical component of risk management. At a minimum, commercial drone operators must hold a Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate by passing an FAA knowledge exam and staying current with ongoing training.

Airspace considerations can also add some complexity. Projects located near airports or in controlled airspace require
advance authorization through systems like LAANC (Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability). However, many drone platforms include built-in airspace awareness tools that alert operators to restrictions and facilitate authorization requests.

The regulatory landscape continues to evolve, especially with the FAA’s proposed Part 108 rule on beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) operations. The proposed framework, outlined in a 2025 Federal Register notice, aims to normalize routine BVLOS flights by establishing requirements for detect-and-avoid systems, airspace coordination, and operational oversight. For construction, BVLOS restrictions are one of the biggest barriers to drone operations, so easing limitations could allow drones to cover larger sites more efficiently and enable automated, scheduled data capture.

“The FAA’s proposed Part 108 rule is a big deal because it would move drone flights beyond one-off approvals and into a clear, nationwide set of rules that allows companies to fly drones BVLOS on a regular basis,” said Logan Decker, ��ý’s drone operator. “Instead of needing special waivers each time, operators would have a consistent path to run larger, more efficient drone programs that can cover much bigger geographic areas per flight. This shift would reduce time and labor costs and unlock high-value use cases.”

Insurance: Coverage, Requirements, and Opportunities

While drone insurance is not mandated by the FAA, it is not optional in practice. Many project owners require contractors to carry specific liability coverage for drone operations, often through preauthorization requirements. Coverage structures can vary with some policies tied to individual operators and others that cover broader organizational use.

On the upside, drones can offer a path to reduced insurance costs over time. By improving documentation, reducing accidents, and enabling early issue detection, drones can lower the frequency and severity of claims.

Data Ownership and Security

As drones generate more sophisticated data, questions around ownership and control are becoming more prominent. In most cases, data ownership is defined by contract. Owners may require access to all documentation, while contractors may retain rights to use the data for internal purposes. Third-party providers may use anonymous data to improve their services, but they typically do not claim ownership or share project data externally without permission.

Security is equally critical. With sensitive project information at stake, providers are investing in certifications, access controls, and data governance protocols to ensure that only authorized users can access information.

Policy, Procurement, and Geopolitical Risk

Beyond project-level considerations, broader policy shifts also shape the drone landscape. Federal scrutiny of foreign-made drones, for example, has introduced new considerations around procurement and cybersecurity. In December, President Trump banned the sale of new foreign-manufactured drones amid growing concerns surrounding data security and supply chain integrity. However, the FCC recently exempted some of those models. For contractors, it is important to stay up to date with changing policies to ensure they maintain compliance since these policies can influence equipment selection and vendor relationships.

Less Adoption Challenges

Some contractors remain hesitant to adopt drone technology because of perceived complexity, regulatory hurdles, and safety risks. However, many of these barriers are diminishing. Contractors can choose to build in-house drone programs or use third-party providers who handle compliance, data capture, and processing. Training resources are widely available, and the technology itself has become more reliable and user-friendly.

“The biggest challenge with launching a drone program is getting employees to adjust to conducting safety inspections and other protocols in a new way,” said Decker. “Forming new habits takes time. Once our team experienced the advantages of the drone program, flight requests dramatically increased.”

Automation and AI

Looking ahead, the next phase of drone-enabled risk management is already taking shape.

Automated “drone-in-a-box” systems can capture data on a schedule without human intervention, ensuring consistent documentation throughout the project. At the same time, artificial intelligence is transforming how that data is analyzed. AI-powered tools can now identify safety hazards, track progress, and compare conditions against schedules and design models in real time.

“We’ve only just begun integrating drones’ asset capture with AI’s safety monitoring,” said Wilson. “It is possible someday AI will use drone imagery to predict and prevent accidents from occurring.”

A New Standard of Care

As regulatory frameworks evolve, technologies mature, and usage expands, drones are becoming more than a competitive advantage — they are becoming a standard of care.

Having eyes in the sky may be one of the most effective ways to keep risk under control.

“Construction firms that haven’t adopted drones should explore the technology. The potential is significant: safer jobsites, stronger quality control, more accurate estimating, and smoother operations that can drive savings and set them apart competitively,” said Wilson.

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When Relationships Come First, Jobsite and Business Results Follow

nisaschmitz — Tue, 19 May 2026 21:11:49 +0000

Publication: , May 19, 2026
By Ryan ��ý, President, ��ý Construction

As ��ý Construction has grown from a small-town contractor into a nationally recognized, award-winning firm, our leadership philosophy has remained rooted in a family-first culture. It’s a mindset instilled in ��ý’s DNA. It’s how we lead, how we support one another and how we build lasting relationships with our partners and clients.

A Rich Legacy

This family-first mentality started with my father, Charles (Chuck) ��ý, a Bronze Star Vietnam War Veteran who lost three members of his platoon in combat and vowed that if he survived, he would dedicate his life to building something of value.

He returned home, began his construction career and founded ��ý Construction on the principles of safety, quality, mutual respect, professionalism, integrity and a dedication to building lasting relationships and projects.

Forty-six years later, these principles continue to guide our leadership team through the ever-evolving construction industry, serving as the building blocks for a successful business model. My brothers, sister, and most of the leadership team had the privilege of working with my father, making carrying on his legacy a natural extension of how we lead.

Guiding Core Values

��ý Construction’s core values focus on safety, quality, best-in-class service, family orientation, community engagement, top talent, and financial success. Like our firm’s founding principles, these values guide our operations, ensuring that we attract and retain the best talent in the industry while offering in-house training and professional development programs.

Prioritizing and investing in employees early on and continuously was something my father adamantly pushed from one generation to the next. We unite the company through regular communication and town halls, and we invest in our employees through skills training and workforce development programs. Through ��ý’s NextGen initiative, we encourage younger generations to pursue careers in construction management, architecture, engineering, skilled trades, safety and quality.

Our company’s average employee tenure is 10 years, and many of ��ý’s employees are second and third-generation workers with deep family ties to the company’s inception. We treat our employees like family, and our employees have helped solidify a family-first culture by embracing an atmosphere where everyone has the knowledge, training, coaching and oversight to be aware of their surroundings and look out for one another.

We’ve been honored to receive many awards for growth, leadership, safety, and quality of work. Being recognized year-over-year as one of the best places to work is a testament to our firm’s servant leadership approach of treating employees, clients, business partners and subcontractors as family.

Quality Relationships

Staying true to our company’s founding principles and core values, the ��ý family’s solidarity extends to employees, business partners and the community. Our extended family has grown to more than 300 full-time employees across three office locations, along with a roster of repeat clients who share our core values and appreciate building long-term relationships.

Building quality relationships through quality work is more than just a motto to us; it has become our industry standard. Eighty-eight percent of our projects come from repeat clients or client referrals — including Walmart, Ameren, Planet Fitness, and Continental Tire, as well as regional developers, educational institutions, and government agencies.

We continue to exceed our clients’ expectations by delivering projects safely, cost-effectively and to the highest standards. A testament to our leadership approach, ��ý’s ongoing commitment to safety and quality has earned regional construction safety awards from AGC Missouri, Carolinas AGC, Central Illinois Builders of AGC and Southern Illinois Builders’ Association. Nationally, ��ý is recognized by the as an Accredited Quality Contractor and ABC Top Performer.

Serving the Community

Advocating for the community is another pillar of ��ý’s values. We remain committed to the local communities that we serve and where our employees and clients live. Over the years, ��ý has supported more than 50 nonprofit organizations through philanthropic partnerships, advocacy, fundraising and volunteer initiatives.

At its core, successful leadership in a family-owned construction business comes down to a simple principle: treat people the way you would want to be treated. Leading with integrity, building trust and treating people with respect creates a culture where employees, partners and clients all thrive. When relationships come first, the results — both on the jobsite and in the business — naturally follow.

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��ý Construction Honored as a 2025 BD+C Top Contractor

nisaschmitz — Tue, 07 Apr 2026 01:53:32 +0000

Publication: , April 7, 2026

��ý Construction earned recognition on . The list ranks the nation’s largest general contractors, CM at-risk firms, and design-builders for nonresidential buildings and multifamily buildings work based on 2024 revenue.

��ý Construction achieved the for its construction management, design/build, general contracting, and self-perform services delivered across the distribution, warehouse, federal and military, healthcare, education, industrial and manufacturing, commercial, hospitality, retail, and utility and infrastructure markets.

��ý Construction achieved its highest 2025 BD+C ranking in the as the 17th largest company in this market.

��ý Construction ranked 18th on BD+C’s list of the .

Business from longtime customer Walmart, Planet Fitness, and Food Lion secured ��ý Construction a rank of 29 on . In 2024, ��ý earned $78 million in the retail market in 2024 to achieve this honor.

��ý Construction improved its ranking from No. 59 to the .

Serving as Construction Manager enables ��ý to advise during the vital preconstruction phase. By identifying budget concerns, mapping out dependencies, and recommending optimal construction materials, ��ý Construction better prepares the project for success.

��ý Construction improved by one spot to claim the 38th spot on .

Poetter Construction earned the 40th spot on . Industry-leading clients like Continental Tire and Volpi Foods contributed to ��ý’s impressive 2024 industrial facility revenue of $155 million, enabling the company to climb a spot compared to the media outlet’s previous list.

With an incredible $65 million in 2024 revenue for this category, ��ý Construction earned the 53rd spot on . Some active projects include Cahokia High School, Columbia High School addition and renovation, and the Parkway School District bond program.

BD+C ranked ��ý Construction as the in the nation. With federal projects like the 170,000 SF Scott Air Force Base Joint Operations & Mission Planning Center and child development centers at both Scott Air Force Base and Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, ��ý Construction earned $54 million in the federal sector to win this recognition.

��ý Construction climbed 27 spots to claim the 73rd ranking on . Design-Build projects like the Innovation Logistics Center in Salisbury, NC, the Scott Air Force Base Child Development Center, and the SIUE Health Sciences Complex contributed to this achievement.

��ý Construction climbed from the 99th spot to the 75th on .

No. 78 Reconstruction Sector Construction Firm

��ý Construction improved its ranking 6 spots to claim No. 78 on . Projects like the Parkway School District 2022 Bond Program capturing multiple schools, renovations for Planet Fitness, and Alton Mental Health Center’s Willow building renovation contributed to this 2025 accomplishment.

��ý Construction claimed the 85th spot on . Higher education market highlights from this year include Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s Health Science Building and Kaskaskia College’s new gymnasium.

��ý Construction climbed 25 spots to achieve the 94th spot on ! Projects like the Memorial Hospital Medical Office Building and Alton Mental Health Center contributed to ��ý’s 2024 healthcare construction earnings of $14 million.

Notable projects such as TDK’s new office and shop earned ��ý Construction the recognition of the 99th spot on .

Other lists specific to market sectors and service type will be released by BD+C over the next few months. Check back to learn about ��ý Construction’s other achievements!

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��ý’s Drone Program Is Redefining Jobsite Innovation

nisaschmitz — Thu, 18 Dec 2025 20:28:03 +0000

Publication: , December 18, 2025

Drones provide excellent aerial video and images of construction projects, but their applications far surpass marketing purposes. ��ý Construction launched its drone program in 2024 to support preconstruction, safety, quality, operations and communication in addition to marketing efforts.

“Keeping at the forefront of industry trends is imperative to business growth and meeting customer expectations,” says Ryan ��ý, President of ��ý Construction. “But we don’t adopt new technology simply because it’s trendy. We built a successful drone program because of its wide applications and numerous benefits across our operations.”

Preconstruction

Drone technology can provide benefits even before boots hit the dirt. With drones, ��ý Construction can survey potential project sites or examine prospective buildings for a renovation project. Drones can evaluate the grade of the site and obstacles to construction.

For renovation projects, drones can ascertain existing roof conditions, building envelope tightness, quality of exterior building materials and site conditions, all within a fraction of the time it would take for a survey by foot.

When the client brings ��ý Construction into the project early enough in the planning process, the team can aid site selection and help the client avoid costly change orders through more precise planning.

For these reasons, drone technology also benefits ��ý Construction in building more accurate bids. ��ý recently bid on a project where the location of the build was identified; however, important property grading details were missing from the project documents.

“The more information we have, the more accurate and detailed we can be in our estimate,” says Ryan Diekemper, VP of Preconstruction at ��ý. “We need to know utility locations, if the site is balanced, if the layout requires retaining walls, and if obstacles necessitate removal. We engaged our drone team to provide this data so we could develop an ideal floor elevation, determine site earthwork needs, and calculate cut and fill.”

The drone readings, enhanced by the aid of geolocation, save the estimating team time as well. “If the ��ý team had to plot the site by hand, it probably would have taken four to eight hours to gather the data in the field and another four to eight hours to plot the data.

“Even after eight to 16 hours of effort, my calculations wouldn’t even come close to the precise measurements provided by the drone,” says Justin Dulle, Lead Estimator at ��ý Construction. “Drone technology enables us to seamlessly transfer the data points to the design team as measurements they can use and integrate into their programs.”

Safety

With Safety as a primary core value, ��ý Construction invests in on-site safety representatives who collaborate with the drone team to maximize protection for the company’s project teams and subcontractor partners.

Drone technology enables ��ý to monitor parts of the project site that are otherwise difficult to inspect or unsafe to access. “Drones are essential for monitoring safety, especially in areas not visible from the ground,” says Peter Ratermann, Senior Project Manager at Construction of the Old Monroe Distilling Co. Wedding & Tasting Venue in Columbia, Illinois. “I frequently check drone footage to verify that roofers adhered to safety protocols for working at heights since it’s difficult to assess from the ground.”

Through a digital interface, ��ý employees can review all the project’s drone footage and images in a single location, including examining all the photos ever captured at a specific location on the project site. Increasing project visibility provides another safeguard for identifying and remedying potential hazards before they become a problem.

Avoiding existing utility lines is a key safety concern for construction projects. Colin Kuhn, Project Manager at the renovation of Alton Mental Health Center’s Willow Building says projects like this that span more than a year will have the painted utility line markings eventually wash away. “We used the drone to record the utility locations so that we can identify their locations even after it rains.”

Quality

In this thermal image captured by a drone, the yellow spots on the solar panels suggest inconsistent energy performance. Drone technology also benefits Quality, another Core Value of ��ý Construction’s.

The architectural plans can be overlaid onto drone footage to ensure the definitive placement of the building on the project site. It can also be used to document product inconsistencies.

The ��ý team noticed that some of the black engineered wood siding was actually a different shade from the rest. It received a bad batch with two different shades of black. The difference was very deceiving and difficult to tell from the ground.

“We used the drones to record the siding progress, which more clearly captured the difference between the two colors and provided a great visual we could send to the manufacturer,” Ratermann says. “Using these photos, we were able to get a representative on site to evaluate, and they agreed to cover the cost of replacement. The drone shots helped significantly to reduce confusion.”

��ý’s drone fleet includes a model specifically used to create thermal maps. The drone can capture footage for the team to better assess infrastructure deficiencies of renovation projects, such as possible roof leaks or heat loss from insulation gaps, and can even evaluate the effectiveness of solar panels.

“When conducting a solar panel inspection, we’re looking for hotspots,” says Logan Decker, drone operator at ��ý Construction. “Areas that display as hotter than the surrounding space indicate malfunctioning individual grids within the panel not converting the solar energy as efficiently as the rest of the panel. As long as a panel isn’t partly shaded, the entire panel should display the same color.”

Decker recently provided images of problematic solar panels to a client so that they could rectify the issue.

Operations

At a Planet Fitness in Missouri, ��ý Construction used a drone to measure the site’s current subgrade elevation, which informed the team how much more dirt was required to achieve the desired grade. With many other projects in the area, the client requested to bring in excess crushed concrete and dirt from their other sites.

Drone technology also can be used to measure the height of concrete pads, as well as evaluate stockpile quantities. Another client needed to know how much product they had on site, and ��ý’s drone team assisted—one of the many benefits to hiring a team with advanced resources.

��ý Construction’s clients, their design teams and other business partners can monitor project progress by accessing drone footage on a digital platform. These images inform the design team when it’s time to visit the site to perform inspections. The inspection findings can then be overlaid onto a site map captured by drones to aid ��ý’s team in remedying any findings.

Community

��ý’s drone program gives the company an avenue for engaging the local community. The company founded NextGen, a program designed to connect students and teachers to the construction of their facilities and broaden their understanding of the career opportunities available in the construction industry. Drone demonstrations are always well-received by ��ý’s education clients.

Drone technology improves ��ý Construction’s efficiencies, operations, and bottom line — all of which improve clients’ experience — the ultimate goal of any ��ý Construction investment.

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��ý’s Partnership Approach Paves the Way for Real Estate Development

daniellebergmann — Tue, 25 Jul 2023 11:25:26 +0000

Forty-three years ago, Charles “Chuck” ��ý founded a small commercial contracting company in his hometown of Breese, Ill. Since then, ��ý Construction has built a reputation for delivering quality projects in the safest and most cost-effective way possible.

“Owners and developers really appreciate collaboration and financial transparency on their real estate projects and is why 95 percent of our commercial real estate portfolio comes from repeat clients and referrals,” says Ryan ��ý, President of ��ý Construction. “It’s really a testament to our team’s approach to ensuring proper project execution is backed by unparalleled financial transparency.”

��ý’s prowess is demonstrated through ongoing partnerships with clients in the commercial real estate, retail, multifamily, distribution, and warehouse sectors. From one-off projects to large regional distribution centers to the rollout of multiple locations, ��ý utilizes these past experiences along with historical cost database of similar projects, partnerships with local trade contractors, and knowledge of current industry trends to help any size business achieve their goals.

In distribution and warehousing, ��ý completed over 3 million square feet of projects in the Midwest and Southeast last year and is actively working with tenants to build out commercial and warehousing space to meet additional distribution needs.

In the multi-family sector, ��ý partnered with Premier Senior Living and the St. Louis Design Alliance to open the developer’s first Illinois destination for a new assisted living and memory care center in October 2022. Revela at O’Fallon addresses a goal frequently discussed within the City of O’Fallon’s 2040 Master Plan – to ensure residents of O’Fallon have optimal housing during whatever stage of life they may be in.

��ý has been a preferred contractor of Planet Fitness in their multi-state expansion, with ��ý providing a key role in site selection and evaluation, making sure potential locations work within the client’s budget and fits overall constructability.

��ý’s approach of early contractor involvement, team collaboration, and shared common goals brings immense value to owners and developers in search of resilient and flexible long-term growth solutions.

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��ý Construction to Break Ground on Old Monroe’s Venue and Tasting Room

daniellebergmann — Mon, 26 Jun 2023 12:35:35 +0000

is expanding its family grown and distilled business with the addition of a distillery inspired luxury wedding and event venue. This new build will be a multi-faceted experience center located in rural Columbia, Ill. near their distillery and 8th generation family farm.

Providing an exclusive and remote experience for its visitors, the venue consists of a large ceremony hall, full-service bar and tasting room, indoor/outdoor lounge, lower-level event space, prep kitchens, offices, a bridal suite, a groom’s suite, multiple restrooms, outdoor spaces, and storage. The site will include new streets, three man-made lakes, a parking lot, and walking paths.

“Old Monroe is thrilled to embark on this remarkable expansion in our hometown of Columbia,” said Adam Stumpf, Co-Owner of Old Monroe Distilling Co. “This project symbolizes our deep-rooted family values and our dedication to fostering local growth and creating exceptional experiences for our residents and visitors.”

This project is made possible by the support of local financial institutions and a $500,000 tourism grant from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. This grant was funded from a $22.5 million initiative that was distributed across the state, funding 89 projects that will ultimately increase tourism.

“We are honored to be a part of this expansion supporting a local business in the state of Illinois, where our family-owned business is headquartered,” Stated Ryan ��ý, President of ��ý Construction. “As a company built on family values, we take great pride in fostering strong relationships with other local businesses like Stumpy’s and look forward to bringing this exciting project to life.”

Brucon is serving as the Owner’s Representative and ��ý Construction is the General Contractor providing preconstruction services. DC Structures will be acting as the architect on the project with Heneghan and Associates, P.C., 303rd Engineering Group, LLC, and Interior Designer Samantha Lee as their engineering design partners.

The groundbreaking ceremony is scheduled for June 26th, 2023 at 10 a.m. The project is expected to be completed in 2024.

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Charlotte Spotlight: Keith ��ý, ��ý Construction

daniellebergmann — Thu, 05 Jan 2023 13:16:57 +0000

spoke with Keith ��ý, chairman and CEO of ��ý Construction, to discuss the major shifts that are occurring across the industry and why the Charlotte region is ripe for immense development growth.

What have been your key takeaways over the past two years?

We’ve got concerns in the construction industry as a whole. Supply chain issues continue impacting us and are among our biggest hurdles in making sure we’re monitoring and handling our procurement process. That’s a strategic initiative for us because these are global issues that are not going away anytime soon. Finding great talent will also continue to be a big challenge. For our firm, retaining that talent while offering training and upward mobility from within the organization is a big priority. We also want to make sure we’ve got good partners and subcontractors, monitoring their workload and creating an atmosphere where they’re successful.

The infrastructure bill and Inflation Reduction Act are game changers for the United States. The country hasn’t invested in infrastructure in over 50 years at this scale. Leaving it up to state and local governments to do it is not sustainable over that time, so it’s a huge shift.

How do strategic partnerships influence ��ý Construction’s success?

Partnerships vary based on the issue at hand, but having a good relationship and network of individuals that you can rely on in the event of an issue or obstacle, who you can call and cut through the red tape with, that is critical. Otherwise, it encumbers progress and puts project timelines in jeopardy. It’s especially important with subcontractors and supporting one another to a project’s completion.

On the economic development side, you’re building long-term relationships and not necessarily knowing where they’ll go at the start. If you cultivate relationships over time, they tend to bear fruit even if it’s five or 10 years down the road. To expand business and reinforce our talent pipeline, we are heavily involved as mentoring partners in many construction management institutions. Eastern Carolina University has a really strong construction management program we work with and support. Appalachian State University, likewise, has a great program that we partner with.

What is your view of corporate social responsibility in construction today?

The construction industry as a whole is lacking in diversity and inclusion, unfortunately. It is also our responsibility to work on that. It’s hard but absolutely necessary work if the industry is to evolve. We also want to recruit more women in construction. We recognize that this will be a process. However, some of our strongest leaders are women and that’s at all levels, from project managers, superintendents and quality control managers, to senior leadership. It’s something the industry must continue to work on. That’s part of our struggle as an industry, particularly with the trade labor shortages that we’re experiencing. You have to broaden your field of inclusion to not only move the needle on the issue but also to take care of staffing shortfalls along the way.

We also have a tremendous responsibility in terms of sustainability. There’s a lot we can do in terms of innovation in assisting with design recommendations for building more sustainable facilities and lowering our carbon footprint in society. It’s all a part of quality, ultimately, and a tremendous opportunity for us.

In what industries are you seeing the most growth in the Charlotte region?

Charlotte, and the Southeast broadly, is becoming a strong logistics hub across the entire United States. In North Carolina, we have the NC Towers energy initiative that will likely create significant growth in manufacturing and distribution in addition to positioning North Carolina as a clean energy producing state. Warehouse distribution space has had significant growth in the Charlotte region and we don’t see that changing, it could, in fact, keep growing. What’s happening on a global stage is that we’re seeing a lot of manufacturers looking at the United States as a safe place to do business.

On top of that, we have closer ties with Europe than Asia, so it’s creating new supply chain shifts at the global level from the West Coast to East Coast ports. Increasing port capacity and the supporting rail and highway infrastructure to handle that new volume is important. Charlotte sits in a strategic location in that regard. It’s close to several big ports, including Wilmington, Charleston and Savannah. From there, we’ve got a lot of rail and roadway capacity to bring product throughout to the Northeast.

How is technology impacting the construction industry?

You won’t get away from the human component anytime soon in construction. Where technology can really grow is in helping streamline processes. That could be in design development or building retrofits, as-built documentation, or validation of what’s installed versus what’s designed. We have drone technology to fly over areas of buildings and can, relatively quickly, validate that what’s installed is in accordance with the design documents.

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Community Bank of Trenton Partners with ��ý to Open a Second Location

daniellebergmann — Mon, 20 Jun 2022 17:34:11 +0000

held a groundbreaking ceremony on Thursday, June 16, to kick off the project to build a new branch in Breese, Ill. at 9420 Holy Cross Lane. ��ý Construction is serving as the general contractor, with Hurford Architects, Inc. as the architect, for the 2,480 square foot facility, which has an anticipate completion date of Fall 2022.

“We look forward to the opening of our second Community Bank location,” states Steven Wallace, Bank President of Community Bank of Trenton. “We look forward to joining the Breese community and to further expanding our financial services in the County. Having owned the land for several years the Board of Directors of the Bank feels the time is right for our expansion into a great community and market that we believe we have products and services that will enhance customers’ financial standing.”

Located near the HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital, this location will feature a change from what has been seen in banking in the past. The building will feature a standard set of offices and conference areas but will feature a modern exterior and a more open and industrial feel on the inside. The new Community Bank location will be powered by Solar energy.

On behalf of the Community Bank Board of Directors, Chairperson Barbara Lockowitz expresses, “A special thank you to the Breese Mayor, City Business Administrator, and everyone we have been in contact with at the City of Breese… also to Kevin ��ý and his team at ��ý Construction that will be serving as our general contractor directing and overseeing the project.”

“We are excited to be assisting Community Bank in this new build and bringing their services to our hometown community of Breese,” states Ryan ��ý, Executive Vice President and COO of ��ý Construction Company. “We hope this project leads to future projects with Community Bank as they continue to grow.”

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Farmers and Merchants National Bank Partners With ��ý Construction to Bring New Location to O’fallon, Ill.

daniellebergmann — Tue, 15 Jun 2021 17:58:09 +0000

Farmers and Merchants National Bank (FMB), in partnership with the City of O’Fallon and ��ý Construction, broke ground on a new location for FMB on May 18, 2021 at 1805 East Highway 50 in O’Fallon, Ill. This 4,000 SF facility, part of the Four Points Center development, will be the bank’s 7 th area location. The project is anticipated for completion in fall 2021.

“Farmers and Merchants National Bank is excited to bring our services to the O’Fallon Community with the help of the City of O’Fallon and ��ý Construction,” states Stephen Greene, President of Farmers and Merchants National Bank. “We are committed to providing exceptional services with our traditional family and community banking values. As we continue to grow and achieve success, we are looking forward to stepping into new communities with our quality products and great customer service.”

FMB currently has 6 locations in St. Clair and Washington counties in Illinois. The addition of the O’Fallon, Ill. service area is conveniently located to provide customers with an upgraded banking experience and easy access for our local customers in St. Clair County and at Scott Air Force Base. The new building consists of metal stud walls, brick masonry walls, thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO) roofing and shingled roofing; and features two drive-thru lanes.

“We are honored to work with Farmers and Merchants National Bank as their general contractor in order to bring more convenience and services to the O’Fallon community,” states Ryan ��ý, Executive Vice President & COO of ��ý Construction Company. “��ý is looking forward to many more projects in the future as Farmers and Merchants continues to expand and deliver
exceptional services.”

The project’s design team is led by Michael E. Bauer Architecture. GC Engineering is serving as the structural engineer; 303 rd Engineering Group as the mechanical, electrical, plumbing engineer; and TWM Engineering as the civil engineer.

About Farmers and Merchants National Bank

Chartered in Nashville, IL on May 6, 1906 by a group of local residents and merchants looking to meet their banking needs. Farmers and Merchants philosophy of community banking has not changed since 1906 and continues to advance and deliver the best possible experience and knowledge to customers. Growth for Farmers and Merchants Bank has been achieved through the continual offering of new quality products and great service. Farmers and Merchants National Bank currently has 4 branches in Washington County and 2 in St. Clair County. For more information, visit www.bankwithfmb.com.

About ��ý Construction Company
Established in 1980, ��ý Construction is a second-generation, family-owned and veteran-owned business specializing in construction management, design/build, general contracting and self-perform services with an emphasis to exceed the client’s expectations. ��ý Construction is dedicated to providing safe, quality, sustainable, and technology solutions to clients in the Education, Distribution, Government, Healthcare, Hospitality, Municipal, Recreation, and Retail industries. The company prides itself on building long-lasting relationships with their clients, business partners and the communities in which they work.

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Riechmann Bros., ��ý to Break Ground on John Deere Dealership

daniellebergmann — Thu, 11 Feb 2021 20:44:04 +0000

Publication: Breese Journal, February 2021

The are set to break ground on a new John Deere dealership location in February of this year. ��ý Construction Company is serving as the design-build contractor for this 15-acre development.

“We pride ourselves on having a team of high-quality technicians and the largest parts inventory for same-day services. This new facility will allow greater accessibility for our customers,” states Bill Riechmann, CEO of Riechmann Bros. “We put our trust in ��ý Construction’s quality of work because they mirror the family-owned values that we live by.”

The 34,000-square-foot facility will be located only a few miles from the original Breese, Illinois location built in 1988, providing ample space to accommodate customers, help accelerate training programs and increase employee retention. The pre-engineered metal building will feature a canopy to match John Deere’s signature brand colors, showcase brick and stone wainscoting, epoxy floor finish, and mezzanines for additional storage. The new facility will feature:

an inside wash bay, providing a location to wash equipment while escaping the challenges of winter and freezing temperatures;
a corporate training room to host technician and sales training with John Deere;
private offices for the management and sales teams, allowing for confidentiality amongst customers; and
two separate vehicle maintenance areas for agriculture and lawn care equipment.

Multiple energy-efficient elements such as LED lighting and extra insulation to control heating and cooling loses have been incorporated into the design.

“��ý Construction is excited to work on a project that will contribute to the economic development and investment in the Breese community,” said Keith ��ý, president of ��ý Construction Company. “This new facility will allow Riechmann Bros. to continue their amazing growth, and we are honored to be working closely with them.”

The anticipated completion date for the new Riechmann Bros. location is late 2021, just in time for their 100th anniversary.

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