Clancy & Theys Construction: Local Team, Notable Clients

Source: Construction Digital

Date :9/3/2008 9:11:11 AM

With projects in a numerous range of sectors, Clancy & Theys strives to maintain quality construction and repeat custom

Written by Sarah Wolfe and Produced by Sean Bakke

For 17 years, the Orlando Division of Clancy & Theys Construction Company (C&T) has been serving, and attracting, repeat clients in the Florida market and beyond. The company specializes in construction management, design/build and general contracting services for numerous commercial market sectors.

Among its more recent projects are general contracting the US$27 million NASA Operations Support Building II at Kennedy Space Center, designing and building the US$22 million Orlando-Orange County Expressway Authority Administration Building, and taking on a US$23 million complete renovation of Hawks Cay Resort Hotel in the Florida Keys – completing the large-scale project in just seven months.

“Design/build was about 65 percent of our workload in the past year. That percentage fluctuates; it was high last year and could be low next year,” says Pete Pace, company Vice President and CEO of the Florida division. “In general, half of our service is design/build, 40 percent is construction management and 10 percent is general contracting.”

The company is capable of serving and has been awarded for its work in an impressive range of sectors from office, educational, religious and specialty, to retail, senior living, hotel and multi-family. It recently earned the 2008 Associated Builder and Contractors’ Excellence in Construction Eagle Award for multiple renovations at the Renaissance Resort at SeaWorld in Orlando, the Merit Award for the Orlando-Orange County Expressway Authority Administration Building, and the Merit Award for City of Lake Mary Events Center in Lake Mary, FL.

C&T’s largest markets are educational K-12, universities and municipalities projects for new city halls, civic centers and government facilities. These include the Orange County Fire/Rescue 911 center in Orlando, DeLand Municipal Complex and City Hall in DeLand, FL and the City of Winter Garden City Hall in Winter Garden, FL.

Pace says C&T is aiming for a higher amount of repeat customers in both the educational and municipality fields. “It’s about building relationships with our clients. Our division’s goal is to become a provider of choice in Florida for construction management and design/build services,” says Pace. “We want people to think when they need a good construction manager on their team, Clancy & Theys Construction Company comes to mind.”

Small-scale, hands-on

The main division of C&T was founded in 1949 in Raleigh, NC, by brothers-in-law EI Clancy and JC Theys, on the same principles still adhered to today – quality construction to repeat clients.

Today, the company operates five divisions in the Southeast, employs about 600 people and as a whole, generates nearly US$520 million in annual revenue. Engineering News-Record ranks it the 109th largest general contractor in the US and 221st in the world.

The Florida division started in 1991 and produces US$75 million in revenue annually. With just 60 employees, Pace says this smaller qualified staff works face-to-face with clients, is very hands-on with projects and visits worksites more often than larger-oversized companies. “You work hard and do the right thing for clients, and everything takes care of itself,” he says.

Pace joined the company three years ago, having previously run one of two divisions for another construction firm. He remarks on the warm atmosphere and camaraderie amongst employees he’s encountered at C&T. “We appreciate the culture we have. Everyone feels like extended family,” he says.

The company looks for people who will fit into the smaller, yet professional, environment. Some of the full-time staff are from C&T’s intern program with the University of Florida. Two interns are chosen each year, with hires coming on board once they graduate.

“We’re a close-knit, small company where everyone knows each other, and we’re looking for people who are going to fit into our team. If they want to work at big offices where they’ll try to climb the corporate ladder, we’re probably not a good match,” Pace explains. “We’re looking for people who are intelligent and hardworking. They can come and get a feel for our culture and vice versa. It’s a great experience for interns either way.”

Training and technology

Once employees are with the company via interning or straight hiring they undergo continual training. A schedule is customized for each employee to ensure their knowledge is current. C&T outsources its LEED training to the University of Florida and, to date, eight staff members have been accredited.

“All of the project managers, superintendents and pre-construction people are being trained to be LEED accredited by the end of this year,” Pace says.

The university also offers federally mandated certification in storm water pollution prevention, and employees have FMI leadership training as well as industry training with C&T’s lawyers, insurance company and other consultants.

C&T has become involved with Building Information Management (BIM) design software what Pace calls the next level of design/build. The program allows for 3D representations of building components and other information that streamlines projects by reducing wasted time and materials which are common issues with the more traditional Computer Aided Design method of drawing with vector file-based lines.

The BIM information is shared with C&T’s pool of pre-qualified subcontractors.

The company has also invested in office management tools like Timberline, PS & SureTrak from Primavera and other contract management programs for processes.

‘No Down Time’

C&T’s employees need not worry about having nothing to do in slow times. The Florida division runs a “No Down Time” community service program. “Instead of laying workers off or giving them busy work, we send them to pro-bono projects for people and clients who need help,” Pace says.

The company so far has worked with Kids House of Seminole County, The Denn John Middle School, The Center for Drug Free Living, and YMCA of Central Florida. It has also helped the Education Foundation of Osceola County move into a new office in Kissimmee by setting up partitions and moving heavy equipment.

The company has donated funds as well to the American Cancer Society, Boy Scouts of America, Special Olympics, Orlando Museum of Art, and many other-industry and community-based organizations in Florida.