By Karen Gentry | MiBiz
kgentry@mibiz.com

Sustainable green building is here to stay, with more U.S. Green Building Council Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Green Building Rating System LEED-accredited professionals, more Energy Star homes and more green features in commercial and residential projects. Regional design/build professionals believe that sustainable building is not a passing fad, but a far-reaching trend.

“In the past year or so, virtually every client wants to talk about incorporating sustainable principles into the design,” said Tower Pinkster President and CEO Arnold Mikon. “All of our clients are much more interested in sustainability. Whether they want LEED certification or not, they’re still interested in sustainable projects.”

St. Joseph-based Allegretti Architects is designing more green homes and an increasing number of homes with solar power. Allegretti Architects Principal John Allegretti believes the construction industry is going to be based on sustainability and the reduction of carbon emissions.

“When it comes to building, I think it’s going to go back to less is more in terms of size,” Allegretti told MiBiz. “We should look at doing more renovation instead of tearing down and building new.”

Backing up his claim, Allegretti states that his firm has done a lot more upgrades and insulations, window replacements and upgrades to more efficient mechanical systems.

Hooker DeJong Inc. President David Layman said that sustainable design is a powerful trend.

“We see more and more clients saying ‘LEED,’ and I think that’s great. What we like to promote and sell is sustainable design. LEED has its place in the commercial sector, and a version of it applies as well to housing,” Layman said.

Muskegon-based Hooker DeJong is certainly going green. The firm has done work with wind turbines, ground source heat pumps and photovoltaic systems.

Rockford Construction President Mike Van Gessel said the economy is forcing more businesses to think about sustainability to avoid rising fuel and labor costs. He said there is more attention to building in modules, with many components built off-site and pre-assembled in an effort to expedite projects and minimize labor expenses.

Technology continues to define the construction industry’s future.

A three-dimensional modeling tool, called building information modeling (BIM), is a new technology that is making construction jobs easier, according to Granger Construction Co. President Gary Granger. BIM allows designers to describe projects in detail and helps avoid construction problems.

“(In the coming years), I think the good service providers will be problem solvers and won’t worry about bricks and mortar,” Granger said.

Flat year ahead

There are two challenges in 2008 for builders and contractors – finding work and making money once they find it, according to Associated Builders and Contractors Western Michigan Chapter President and CEO John Doherty.

Although there are many large projects around the Grand Rapids area, “a lot of contractors are not a part of those jobs,” Doherty said.

He said most design and build professionals expect 2008 to be similar to 2007 and its stable employment.

Doherty said about 20 percent of ABC members are taking projects outside the region. They may go to other parts of Michigan or states like Utah, Texas or the Carolinas, where the economy is better.

“That is getting preferable to taking a local project for no profit,” Doherty told MiBiz, noting that in West Michigan contractors often bid with up to 10 competitors to get a job.

Layman said 2007 was a more normal year for Hooker DeJong, and 2008 looks to be a decent one. Hooker DeJong has experienced considerable growth in the last several years, jumping from 13 to 21 employees. In 2006, the company completed design work for the $20 million waterpark and hotel for Double JJ Ranch in Rothbury, which fueled a great year.

In 2008, Rockford Construction will complete a large project for the Diocese of Grand Rapids and part of the Grand Landing project in Grand Haven.

“We look forward to doing what we’ve always done and doing it well by taking on challenging real estate projects and developing turnkey solutions,” Van Gessel told MiBiz.

Rockford Construction does 50 percent of its business in West Michigan, but is now licensed and registered in 28 states, with plans to do business in all of the lower 48 by 2011.

Coming off two very high-profile projects – the Grand Rapids Art Museum and the JW Marriott Hotel – Rockford continues with forward momentum.

Although Granger expects some business contraction in 2008, there have been a surprising number of RFPs in December that he believes is a “pretty good indicator” for his company.

“It (2008) is going to be kind of mixed from my standpoint. It will be a decent year, but not great,” he said.

In 2006, Granger constructed the concrete frame and the parking deck for the JW Marriott Hotel and completed a science center for Hope College. The company is currently working on a clean drinking water plant in Wyoming that will serve West Michigan, as well as continuing work on projects for Western Michigan University and Ferris State University.

“We grew in volume, but actually our sales were down,” Granger said about 2007.

Tower Pinkster grew 15 percent in 2007 and expects to grow a more modest 10 percent in 2008. Tower Pinkster has enjoyed a lot of success in K-12 projects.

“Our success rates in getting bonds passed has been excellent,” Mikon said.

The company is working on several projects for the Kalamazoo Public School District, including a new elementary school that is under construction and a new middle school that is currently out for bid. In early 2008, the company also plans to finish a new student center for Kalamazoo College, a new jail in Midland County and courthouse renovation in Washtenaw County.

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This article appeared in the Monday, December 24, 2007 issue of MiBiz, read by upper management executives in West and Southwest Michigan. Print subscriptions are free to qualified individuals who are employed in West and Southwest Michigan. For further information about MiBiz, visit www.mibiz.com.