Construction Archives

CAVCON Recognized in National Hall of Fame Competition for Best in Schools Build

March 2, 2023

by cavcon Press Releases

Greensburg, PA, March 1, 2023 – The Indiana County Education and Technology Center built by CAVCON of Greensburg, PA, has been recognized for architectural excellence by Varco Pruden Buildings, as a Best-in-Class Winner of Schools in the exclusive Hall of Fame award. Varco Pruden Buildings is one of the nation’s largest building-solutions companies. Varco Pruden is a division of BlueScope Buildings North America, Inc., and has a network of more than 1,000 builders across the United States and Canada.

CAVCON has been named to Varco Pruden’s 2023 Hall of Fame for the Indiana County Education and Technology Center in Indiana, PA. CAVCON worked with Indiana County Commissioners to build the 26,000 square foot state-of-the-art technology building which will house Westmoreland County Community College campus. There is still 11,166 of shell space remaining for the proposed STEM education facility.

The building is housed on the site that is home to Indiana County Technology Center, a technical school in Indiana County serving high school and adult students. The technology center provides technical and academic curricula offering students both theory and hands-on education into secondary education or direct employment into the trades. The Indiana County Education Technology Center will serve as an educational hub for the residents of Indiana, Westmoreland counties, and beyond. The project was completed in July 2022.

The highly competitive Hall of Fame Awards are presented annually to the independent authorized VP Builders whose work reflects innovation and excellence using Varco Pruden building systems by creating exceptional architectural appearance, efficient design, and effective end use. The projects include a range of industrial, commercial, retail, and municipal projects.

Desmone Architects and Stiffler-McGraw Civil Engineers were instrumental in the development of the project. Funding for the project came from a variety of sources. Byron Stauffer, of Indiana County Office of Planning & Development and key leadership in Indiana County were instrumental in spearheading the project. As a Varco Pruden authorized builder with expertise in pre-engineered steel buildings, CAVCON was able to offer insight into the design and budgeting process.

“The Hall of Fame is proof positive that our builders continue to challenge the boundaries by seeking new and innovative ways to prove that Metal Building Systems are the system of choice,” said Paul Day, president of Varco Pruden.

“CAVCON is extremely pleased to have won this award for a second time in a different building discipline. The first time we won the award was for Vollmer of America’s Sales and Distribution Center and the second time winning the award is for Best in Schools. These projects showcase the versatility and capability of a pre-engineered building. None of the architect’s design intent was sacrificed in the construction of a pre-engineered metal building and the bottom line for the customer was a significant cost savings” said Jim Thomas, president of CAVCON

About CAVCON

CAVCON brings together three generations of Building Owners/Managers and General Contractors with Design/Build expertise focusing on Medical, Commercial, Retail, Manufacturing and Light Industrial projects. As a full-service merit shop general construction company, CAVCON provides design-build services incorporating value engineering, collaborative modeling, construction management, and turn-key general construction services to deliver the best outcomes for our clients. To learn more, visit www.cavcon.com.

About Varco Pruden Buildings

Varco Pruden Buildings is a division of BlueScope Buildings North America, Inc. Through advanced engineering and proprietary building products, Varco Pruden provides innovative steel building solutions for low-rise commercial and industrial applications – including offices, warehouses, schools, manufacturing and retail projects. Headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee, the company markets its products through a network of more than 1,000 authorized builders within the United States and Canada. Varco Pruden is a member of the MBMA, CSSBI and the USGBC. For additional information, visit www.varcopruden.com.

CAVCON BECOMES AN APPROVED VARCO PRUDEN BUILDER

April 20, 2017

by cavcon Blogs

CAVCON continues to seek efficiencies in construction and recently became an approved Varco Pruden builder. With a focus on our design build services, clients can save time and money. In recent blogs we have talked about modular office building and their efficiencies, and now through our relationship with Varco Pruden, CAVCON has added steel system construction to our capabilities.

“With approximately 1,000 approved Varco Pruden builders throughout the US and Canada, general contractors are carefully vetted. Varco Pruden looks for quality contractors with an outstanding reputation in design/build for commercial applications”, states Jim Peckham, Manager of Marketing for Varco Pruden.

Poised for success, CAVCON is excited to become an approved builder for Varco Pruden, a world leader in providing innovative pre-engineered steel building systems. Each year, VP supplies approximately 6,000 buildings ranging from 1,200 square feet to more than one million square feet under roof, so this allows CAVCON to efficiently expand our capabilities.

Customers can save up to 30% in overall construction for certain building types through customization and computer-assisted design. This reduces time for planning, on-site organization and construction by one third. Customers realize a faster occupancy and a quicker return on investment.

Steel structure custom designs result in insulated roof and wall systems that can significantly reduce HVAC costs. Simplified design and code process allows for coordination with streamlined delivery. Unlike a wooden structure, steel fabrication reduces maintenance and diminishes deterioration, cracking, rot, and insect damage. These structures are easy to expand and accommodate growth.

CAVCON is a recognized leader in green design through various projects. To that end, Varco Pruden’s have an ever-growing number of products that meet or exceed the guidelines of the U.S. Environmental Protect Agency’s Energy Star program. In addition, Varco Pruden is an active participant in both the Cool Roof Rating Council and the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), which maintains the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) rating system.

These products can contribute significantly toward your project’s LEED certification in areas of:

Recycled content
Recyclability/Reuse in the future
Energy efficiency
Cool Roof materials

Design and estimating time is reduced using the most advanced computer system in the industry. CAVCON works closely with our customers to accurately detail the building structure, and efficiently move the materials through the build process. This helps to ensure material quality, which leads to faster field erection, saving you both time and money.

These steel structures aren’t limited to manufacturing. They are being used for such types of applications such as houses of worship, retail, auto dealerships, government buildings, office buildings, retail space, schools, and self-storage buildings.

As the cracker plant and various ancillary support companies come into the region, it will be important to be able to quickly and efficiently construct new buildings and retrofit existing spaces. Varco Pruden steel structure systems will put CAVCON and their customers on the fast track from design to occupancy.

About CAVCON: CAVCON brings together three generations of Building Owners/Managers and General Contractors with Design/Build expertise focusing on Medical, Commercial, Retail, Manufacturing and Light Industrial projects. As a full-service merit shop general construction company CAVCON provides design-build services incorporating value engineering, collaborative modeling and turn-key general construction services to deliver the best outcomes for our clients.

BRIDGEWATER CROSSING SET TO MEET HOUSING DEMAND IN BEAVER COUNTY

February 3, 2017

by cavcon Blogs

Following the announcement of Shell petrochemical plant, there will be many construction projects that occur in Beaver and the surrounding counties. CAVCON is managing one of the first ancillary construction projects; the construction of Bridgewater Crossing, a 3 building apartment complex featuring over 255,000 square feet.

For over 30 years, CAVCON, a full-service, merit shop general contractor, has worked with a variety construction projects offering a complete turnkey approach from pre-construction design to general construction build and completion delivery services. As a single source solution for our clients, we take a project from inception through construction management and delivery. We understand the everyday challenges our clients face and are the perfect fit for design/build projects in a various industries.

The announcement of the Shell petrochemical plant has stirred up quite a buzz in the region. Creation of jobs, preparation of workforce and integration of higher education to prepare a workforce of skilled trades. With a project this size, there is a magnitude of trickle down effects and ancillary growth from housing, restaurants and building suppliers.

With the focus on new building, sometimes it is easy to overlook older structures that may be converted into a new purpose. Often owners may struggle with whether to start from scratch or try to remodel. In the scheme of things if a building is structurally sound, the roof and the outside skin can be updated and changed. That’s the value of working with a design/build construction firm.

What if you knew your building project timeline could be cut in half, your costs for construction were less, and you were able to open for business sooner with incoming revenue? To top it all off, sustainability and LEED were incorporated into the project.

Modular space solutions are more than box like structures, they can be custom built to allow unmatched flexibility and adaptability, proving that form need not be sacrificed for function. Custom interior finishes can be incorporated into the overall design of the custom tailored project. Interior and exterior buildouts are done simultaneously with building codes and third party inspections performed onsite at the factory.

By allowing simultaneous production of site work, as well as interior construction, it reduces the overall time to occupancy. The end result: a high quality, custom solution in less time than a conventional site-built project. By simultaneously utilizing an onsite preparation and off-site interior build out, the solution is delivered in half the time. New project launches have saved up to 40% in start to finish time utilizing this type of construction.

Removing approximately 80% of the building construction activity from the site location significantly reduces site disruption, vehicular traffic and improves overall safety and security. So, for schools, hospitals, or other active businesses, reducing on-site activity and thereby eliminating a large part of the ongoing construction hazards, is a tremendous advantage.

As Beaver and surrounding counties prepare for the influx of work staff and ancillary services needed, consider how a blend of repurposing older structures, along with conventional new construction and modular construction will help to maintain the integrity of our local communities and infrastructure needed to support this project, as well as save time to provide a quick turnaround for services.

If we look at how Shell began working in Beaver, it began with a master plan. A roadmap of infrastructure that would be needed to support the facility. As community leaders ponder, the same type of process should be taken into account to ensure sustainability long after the Shell petrochemical plant has been completed as there will undoubtedly be spin off companies that utilize the raw materials to produce byproducts from the Shell production facility. Our region and its workforce will be the beneficiaries this effort.

To learn more about the full range of services CAVCON offers, visit our website at www.CAVCON.com.

About CAVCON: CAVCON brings together three generations of Building Owners/Managers and General Contractors with Design/Build expertise focusing on Medical, Commercial, Retail, Manufacturing and Light Industrial projects. As a full-service merit shop general construction company CAVCON provides design-build services incorporating value engineering, collaborative modeling and turn-key general construction services to deliver the best outcomes for our clients.

AN UNDERSEA ADVENTURE AWAITS

May 9, 2016

by cavcon Blogs

There aren’t many people who say they enjoy going to the dentist. But, one dentist wanted to change that perception for her young patients. Dr. Beatriz De La Roche of Tender Care Pediatric Dentistry wanted to make a difference to the children who enter the doors to her pediatric dental practice by providing a positive atmosphere. Her vision was to create a place where kids could come, play and have fun at the dentist.

Child-friendly diversions like 3D murals and the latest video games help kids look forward to dental visits. Even the dental rooms provide a different atmosphere such as being in a rain forest, on an African safari, or being among pandas or dinosaurs.

You may wonder what this has to do with construction. A customized project such as this is about understanding who your audience is and creating an environment and place where they can feel comfortable.

Working with architect, Peter Cecconi, CAVCON brought to life Dr. De La Roche’s vision to of a practice where kids felt comfortable and wanted to come. Traits are often learned at an early age, and if there was a way to calm a young child in their trip to the dentist, Dr. De La Roche wanted to accomplish that.

The underwater adventure was customized and incorporated a brushing wall, complete with mirrors within multiple fish. The 3D murals featured a surfer and other underwater animals. There was no attention to detail spared in this one-of-a kind dentistry practice.

When building for a younger audience, there were plenty of things we kept in mind. Pediatric healthcare facilities are distinctive for their age adaptive design, detailing that engages a child’s imagination and a child-scaled environment.

CAVCON utilizes these concepts in our building projects today. Not only do we account for what a client may want, but in many cases, we are taking into consideration who their audience is, or who their employees may be.

As new generations enter the workforce, there has been a shift in the traditional office cubical to more shared spaces and glass conference areas. Collaboration among peers is important. For the employer, it means providing the right environment to attract young talent. Employees enjoy coming to work in a place that is aesthetically pleasing. The result is a positive employee morale.

When you think about your audience and your customers, are you updating dated facilities, adding amenities to waiting areas, creating a comfortable space for children to play, and tailoring your facility toward customer needs and wants? If a customer feels comfortable, they will want to come back for more. If employees enjoy their work environment, they will be more productive.

Dr. De La Roche found the right combination of underwater adventure to put her young patients at ease. The result…a bright and happy workplace for her staff and a welcoming environment for the young patients and their families who walk through her practice doors.

BUILDING FOR THE NEXT GENERATION

May 6, 2016

by cavcon Blogs

In 2010 Baby Boomers made up more than 50% of the workforce. By the year 2020 the Baby Boomers will be outnumbered by Millennials. With this shift, we have begun to see a change in the workspace in which employees like to work. Companies who seek out today’s top talent, particularly in the tech industry are shifting their culture and workplace environment.

Millennials are characterized as being highly tech savvy, engaged and social. These characteristics lend them being more productive when they are able to change their workplace setting, allowing them to work in groups and be more social. Café’s, lounges, and more technology friendly workspaces have proven to increase productivity for this generation. These demographic changes in the average employee are changing the landscape of the office, from the high walls and closed off offices, to the open floor plans and technologically advanced buildings with green sustainability.

As millennials begin to become the leading generation in the workplace, the construction industry has experienced an increase in building renovations. Although this younger generation is gravitating toward the historic buildings in downtown areas, they are leaving the outside architecture of the building to represent the historic landmarks that they are known for. But, they are renovating the inside space to consist of a more functional, comfortable, high tech work environment.

Millennials have a strong desire to collaborate and it is through this collaboration that interior walls are coming down. Unlike the boomers, they are not characteristically a generation that thrives on isolation within a cubical or office. Companies have seen the increase in productivity when the employees work together rather than separate, which has led to an increase in open areas and informal meeting areas.

Increased usage of informal meeting areas and work areas is decreasing the time that employees spend at their desk. As a result of this there is less of a need to have large lavish cubical or office space for employees. Offices have seen a decrease of around 30-40% in floor space designated for personal work space, allowing companies to shrink the floor space required for their company, reducing their required office space and overall operating costs.

In 2001 the average space allocated per worker was 300 sq. ft. This number dropped to 225 sq. ft. in 2010 and in 2012 continued to drop to 176 sq. ft. according to CoreNet Global. Companies estimate that the average work space allotted per employee could go as low as 100 sq. ft. if the trends continue. This decrease has led businesses to be more profitable by reducing their overhead cost of office space required.

As millennials continue to command space in the workplace, it is expected that there will be an increase in renovations done by companies to keep up with the newer high tech trends. Opening up floor plans, changing lighting and creating more informal workplaces are just a few ways we will begin to see the workplace of today change.

AUTOMOTIVE DEALERSHIP UPGRADES

November 5, 2015

by cavcon Blogs

Have you purchased a new car recently or taken your car into the dealership for some maintenance and noticed your automotive dealership is undergoing renovation, upgrades or a reorganization? The Sendell Subaru Showroom in Greensburg is among the latest to upgrade their showroom and have contracted with CAVCON to convert their Buick dealership to a Sendell Subaru showroom.

Dealerships are not only being pushed by the auto manufacturers but also by their consumers to provide a stellar customer buying and service experience. Just as curb appeal helps sell homes, it also is key to luring in buyers. If a dealership is old and run down, customers may think they haven’t upgraded their computer systems and maintenance departments to better service new vehicles. After all, consumers have a choice where they spend their money.

Individual auto manufacturers have always looked for new ways to set their brand apart, as well as, strategies to attract buyers into their dealerships. In the last five years they have found that if the dealerships update their facility with sleek, state-of-the-art design, equipment and amenities the dealership is more likely to attract buyers. The manufacturers have also pushed dealers to upgrade their facilities thus, creating a unified look to promote the manufacturer’s brand.

Even when the economy was at a low point in 2008 many dealerships found themselves investing millions into renovations. Why you may ask? Well the answer is simple. Even at a time when less cars are being sold, dealerships want to show customers they are investing in the future and preparing to be the dealership of choice for years to come. They want their lots to be appealing to the eye and comfortable for the customers while waiting on vehicle maintenance or especially when closing a deal on a new set of wheels.

Peer pressure to conform as one dealership makes updates to their facility, also puts pressure on other dealerships and business around the area to spruce up and upgrade their facilities.

Sendell Subaru is among a list of dealerships CAVCON has renovated for Sendell Motors. CAVCON has designed and built VW, Honda, Mitsubishi and Buick dealerships for Sendell Motors as well. We work hand-in-hand with both the dealership and the auto manufacturer to ensure construction adherence to corporate specifications, as well as local dealer owner’s specifications. Because of CAVCON’s partnership with dealers and auto manufacturers, the consumer benefits. Their car buying experience and all the amenities at the dealership will be the best and most technologic ally advanced.

SUSAN BRIMO COX GLASS STUDIO HONORS LOCAL ARTIST

October 30, 2015

by cavcon Press Releases

Touchstone Center for Crafts is Pennsylvania’s only residential arts and craft center where individuals can take classes and stay on campus recently dedicated Susan Brimo Cox Glass Studio to honor a local artist. Created in 1972, Touchstone Center for Crafts was originally known as Pioneer Crafts Council which was founded by two Pittsburgh women Francis Balter and Agnes Kinard.

This unique craft school has expanded to include contemporary and experimental techniques, in addition to the traditional and historic methods in disciplines such as blacksmithing, ceramics, metals, textiles, glass, oil and watercolor painting, photography, printmaking and sculpture. As Pennsylvania’s only residential craft school, Touchstone offers both beginners and seasoned artists more than one hundred week-long and weekend courses taught by some of North America’s finest artists and artisans.

Mary Len Hajduk, President of the Board of Directors, described the destruction of the Old Red Barn’s structure in 2010 where a snow storm severely damaged the building’s roof. Since that time, the damaged structure prohibited the organization from offering any significant glass classes. Only during the past year has funding become available that will cover the cost of the construction of a new glass studio. The facility will feature state-of-the-art equipment and kilns, offering an excellent place to conduct classes. The Old Red Barn was demolished last year and the wood from the barn will be repurposed into other construction projects.

The contemporary studio glass movement has caught the imagination of the public more than any craft form in the last decade, and remains an essential component to the resurgent interest in craft processes. Shauna Soom, Executive Director for the center stated the following, “Until our facility (the Red Barn) was severely damaged in 2010, Touchstone offered a wide array of glass workshops and was poised to benefit from the increasing public interest in glassmaking. With the new energy-efficient and well-equipped glass education studio, Touchstone will again be able to provide a diverse and extensive offering of glass workshops in an inviting, environmentally healthy, and responsible setting. Ultimately, this new facility will serve as a regional model for the synthesis of environmental stewardship and visual arts education.

Susan Brimo-Cox dedication 10-03-15 — Left side front, left to right: Sarah Stopyra, Shawn Fischer, Carolyn Danus. Left side back, left to right: Frank Golba, Touchstone Center for Crafts (TCC) Board of Director’s Past President Dan Fischer, Aaron Lane, Lloyd Cox. Right side, left to right: Kevin Kopp, Dolores Kopp, Monica Saffri, Mary Len Hajduk, TCC Board of Director’s President Shauna Soom, TCC Executive Director

The objective of the project was to construct and equip an environmentally responsible glass education studio on Touchstone’s campus. This studio will efficiently provide educational programming in a variety of glass-making techniques to more than 150 participants every season. Based on technical counsel from a wide range of glass artists in the region, we have identified the equipment necessary to make our new glass studio an energy-efficient educational destination for glass artists. With high-quality equipment for lampworking, cold working, slumping, fusing, and stained glass, Touchstone will re-emerge as a regional focal point for exploration and creativity in this most dynamic medium.”

Soom further commented that throughout the bidding process, CAVCON, the contractor chosen for the project, worked closely with Touchstone regarding the project. They were responsive, and the comprehensive team they involved in the estimation process (HVAC, architects, surveyors, estimators, etc.) was exceptional.

Mike Phillips, President of CAVCON, indicated the design/build services CAVCON offers facilitated conversations and modifications for particular pieces of glass equipment and energy efficiencies allowing for adjustments to building plans prior to the onset of construction, saving the organization time and money.

The project received approval from the local commissioners and construction begin in the spring of 2015. Susan Brimo Cox, a recognized glass artist loved Touchtone Center for Crafts. She was diagnosed with cancer in 2011 and passed away in 2012. In Susan’s memory, her family made a generous donation to the center. The project was completed in late summer and the new facility was dedicated in the fall of 2015 as The Susan Brimo Cox Glass Studio in her honor.

About Touchstone: Touchstone is located in Farmington, Pennsylvania, amid the natural splendor of the Laurel Highlands. Founded in 1972 as the Pioneer Crafts Council, Touchstone’s original mission was to foster interest in the preservation of the traditional craft forms and culture of the Appalachian region. Touchstone provides underserved audiences in the region, from senior citizens to public school students, with craft-centered educational programming. Touchstone’s artistic, educational, and residential facilities sit on 150 acres of lush woodlands and pristine wilderness. Not only is Touchstone Center for Crafts the only residential craft school in Pennsylvania, it’s the natural setting for your creative nature.

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