Leader Spotlight: Miles-McClellan Construction project executive Kevin Joseph Reflects on the Positive Impact of Successful Renovation

mmcrebuildstg on December 20, 2023

Renovating Spaces and Transforming Communities – An Interview with Miles-McClellan Construction project executive Kevin Joseph

Change is good.

Many people will hear that phrase on numerous occasions throughout their lifetime. At Miles-McClellan Construction, we have seen the power of change firsthand through renovation projects that not only transform facilities and structures, but the communities that they call home. We not only change spaces, we change communities.

While change is good, it can also be challenging. Construction renovation projects require a talented team and smart construction solutions to successfully execute in a way that satisfies the client and contributes to impactful growth for the community. In this interview with Kevin Joseph, Miles-McClellan Construction project executive, learn about his unique experiences with renovation projects, particularly renovation projects in occupied facilities, and why he believes construction renovation is a powerful tool that not only creates safer, more beautiful spaces, but uplifts the spirit of a community.

Q: Why do you like working on renovations that take place in occupied facilities?

A: We appreciate working on renovations in occupied facilities because it presents unique challenges that test our problem-solving and project management skills. It’s satisfying to deliver successful projects while minimizing disruptions for the occupants. Additionally, the positive impact on these spaces, whether it’s creating a better work environment or improving a facility’s functionality, is highly rewarding.

Q: What do you and your team bring to the table when working in occupied facilities?

A: Our team brings a unique blend of expertise, adaptability and a good sense of humor to the table when it comes to renovations in occupied facilities. We thrive on challenges and are the go-to problem-solving partners. We understand the need for minimal disruption and are adept at keeping the atmosphere light and positive during the process.

Q: Can you provide an example of “how you saved the day” for a renovation and work project in an occupied facility?

A: One of our clients received a large, heavy delivery late on a Friday afternoon. They had no way to unload it or move the shipment into the building. Our on-site team was able to pull together labor from our other nearby sites to take care of the issue. This not only alleviated our client’s immediate concern but also showcased our ability to think on our feet and provide timely solutions, even in unexpected circumstances.

Q: Do you have specific advice for renovation clients?

A: Clearly define your goals, set a realistic budget and provide open communication. The reality of renovation projects is that unforeseen issues will happen. Working together, we can navigate the process more effectively and ensure a positive outcome for the job.

Is it time for impactful renovation in your community? Under the guidance of leaders such as Kevin Joseph and his dedicated team, construction renovation is not only good, but life changing. Contact us today and let’s make sure your next renovation project is a success.

We Change the Spaces That Change Lives

mmcrebuildstg on November 22, 2023

Wells Barn at the Franklin Park Conservatory

“We thrive on challenges and are your go-to problem-solving partners.”

Kevin Joseph, Miles-McClellan Construction Project Executive

As defined by Merriam-Webster, renovation is the act of restoring life, vigor or activity.

As the smarter construction company on a mission to build excellence, we are proud of our renovation projects that restore and bring fresh energy into the communities where we live, work and play. Steered by our skilled leaders and a talented IMMPact team, we have witnessed firsthand how exceptional renovation construction can transform communities and change lives.

Beautifying the Community Through Renovation

One of Miles-McClellan Construction’s most noteworthy renovation projects was our work on Wells Barn at the Franklin Park Conservatory in Columbus, Ohio. Wells Barn is an existing heavy timber barn frame from the late 1800s that was renovated into a new education, community outreach and events facility on Franklin Park Conservatory’s campus. One of the most complex construction considerations faced during this renovation project was finding a way to incorporate the original timber from the barn into the modernized version that met current building codes and was structurally sound. Ultimately, our structural engineer was able to design new studs that could be fastened to the existing timber, and C-channel beams provided an additional layer of support. The updated Wells Barn has been a great addition to Franklin Park Conservatory, and now holds a variety of events that benefit the community, such as cooking demonstrations, do-it-yourself cooking classes and tastings within the kitchen space, children and youth classes, adult classes, summer camps, lectures and conferences/symposia.

Family-Friendly Renovation

It doesn’t get much more memorable than having stingrays as a client! Well, not exactly, but we loved partnering with the Columbus Zoo for numerous renovation projects that included the Freshwater Mussel Conservation & Research Center, Nocturnal Building and Aviary upgrades to create a habitat/exhibit space for the Weedy Seadragon and renovation of an existing stingray touch experience. Due to weather issues, Miles-McClellan Construction had to find resourceful ways to complete the project, including repurposing soil used in other areas of the zoo undergoing renovation and using it to cover up miles of pipework.

Renovation That Improves Safety at Schools

Some of our most important renovations have nothing to do with aesthetics, but improving critical components of a space. For our work with Columbus City Schools, we led several HVAC renovations that would make schools safer for students and staff. Under the supervision of Brad Bloomberg, Vice President, HVAC renovations at Valleyview Elementary School, Westgate Elementary School and West Broad Elementary School included replacement of the HVAC systems, new electrical service and both structural and architectural elements to support the new systems. Working strategically, these projects were completed on-time and without issues.

Changing Spaces, Changing Communities, Changing Lives

Our renovation projects transform and improve the lives of residents.  With every renovation project, we are doing our part to help our clients breathe new life into spaces that are vital to the community.

We believe in renovation that makes an impact. Contact us and let’s make a difference through excellent renovation!

2023 Q3 Economic Indicator

mmcrebuildstg on November 15, 2023

2023 Q3 Economic Indicator
The forecast briefing headline included in this month’s Construction Executive magazine was short and simple, “The National Economy is Weakening.”

While speaking on the magazine’s 2023 Q3 “Economic Update and Forecast” webinar, Anirban Basu, The Associated Builders and Contractors’ Chief Economist, said, “the economy has been much stronger than I would have anticipated.” But while job growth, low unemployment and increased spending on construction are positive signs, Basu remains wary of the longer-term outlook, pointing to red flags such as skyrocketing credit-card debt and other industry economic indicators. “My view,” Basu told his online audience, “is the national economy is weakening, increasingly under pressure from higher interest rates, strikes, worker shortages and loss of production; borrowing costs are higher; and excess inflation persists.”

Our attached report, is one quick and easy way to see the trends behind the headline.  The AIA Billing Index is on a four month negative trend, including the last two months below 50. The ABC and FMI backlog indicators are both on negative trends and neither has returned to pre-pandemic levels.

Quick summary: Contractor backlogs are lower right now and there will be less opportunities to pursue throughout 2024. For owners, this could ultimately result in increased competition and more competitive pricing.

A couple of examples from Q3 Miles-McClellan bidding and budgeting efforts:

  • Craig Richards, Vice President, “Our division originally bid a sizeable renovation project to a large, international CM firm. During Q3, 2021, the wall protection package was worth $6.7M and was removed from the scope of work due to being over budget. The package was rebid during Q2 of 2023 at $7.6M. This was a 13% increase in 18 months.”
  • Kevin Joseph, Project Executive, “My team is continuing to feel the effects of bad owner budgets. We recently were low bidder on a City of Columbus job that is 45% over budget. The job is unawardable and the City is now trying to figure out what they can do to value engineer the job. I’m not confident that value engineering will be able to make up such a large disconnect between the budget and the reality of local construction costs. We were also recently low bidder on a public job in Mifflin Township that is unawardable due to a blown budget.”
  • Matt Recchiuti, Vice President, “Much like Kevin, really the only trend I am seeing is that Architects are woefully underestimating public budgets to owners, and almost all of the Public Work bids are having to re-bid to due a shortage of requested funds. We are still seeing delays in HVAC equipment and Electrical gear, most of the time up to a year.”

Leader Spotlight: The Impact of Building Community Success

mmcrebuildstg on November 7, 2023

Franklin Park Conservatory

“There is Always a Way.” – An Interview with Miles-McClellan Construction’s Vice President, Craig Richards

Not all heroes wear capes. Sometimes they wear badges and stethoscopes, and on our team, hard hats.

But often, everyday heroes are working hard behind the scenes, striving to make a difference in the community by creating spaces that provide a safe haven for those who need a voice, an advocate and support.

Miles-McClellan Construction is honored that we have been able to help these unsung heroes and their organizations build excellence by improving the spaces in their communities. In this interview with Craig Richards, an MM Vice President, he sheds light on his experience working with non-profit organizations throughout his career, how open communication is key to a successful collaboration and why working with non-profit organizations to build excellence is incredibly rewarding.

Q: What experience do you have working with non-profits?

A: Most recent non-profit clients include the Franklin Park Conservatory, Central Ohio Community Improvement Corp., Franklin County Landbank (COCIC), The American Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) and the Upper Arlington Lutheran Church.

Q: Is there a certain type of non-profit client you work best with?

A: We always look for a client that is team oriented. The last few years have been tough on the construction industry with the pandemic, which then led to inflation, rising interest rates, material supply chain issues and labor shortages. Despite all of the negativity and rising construction costs, our non-profit clients continued to keep a positive attitude and never lost focus of their mission to improve communities. In lieu of pointing fingers when budgets and schedules were threatened, the teams worked together to find a way to achieve the goal. That is the type of client we look for, regardless of the client’s industry.

Q: Why do you like working with non-profits?

A: Non-profit client missions align with Miles-McClellan Construction’s. Miles-McClellan Construction’s mission is building leaders and long-term relationships, and non-profits missions are typically about building/improving communities. Building relationships and communities go hand in hand in my opinion, which makes Miles-McClellan Construction a good fit.

Q: What do you and your team bring to the table – why would non-profits want to work with you?

A: Miles-McClellan Construction is flexible, collaborative, and transparent which fosters an environment of trust. You will never hear Miles-McClellan Construction place blame on other team members or deflect responsibility. We want to be their partner, and strive to be the easy button.

Q: Do you have an example of “how you saved the day” for a non-profit?

A: Unfortunately, we are not superheroes, therefore I can’t say we have ever truly saved the day. However, we recently had a project where the HVAC equipment was delayed approximately six months and was going to prevent the client from occupying their new building ahead of their current lease expiring. The design and construction team were able to come up with a temporary heating and cooling system until the HAVC equipment finally arrived, and was able to get the client in their new building two weeks ahead of schedule with a temporary occupancy. This was definitely not an ideal situation, but we saved the day by providing a temporary solution.

Q: Is there any specific advice you have for non-profits?

A: Invite your construction manager into the process as early as possible, and challenge them to think outside the box when times get tough. There is always a way!

How can we help the non-profit heroes in your community? Under the supervision of leaders such as Craig and our hardworking team, Miles-McClellan Construction has helped improve communities and make them a safer space for residents. If you are a non-profit with a building project, contact us today and let’s work together to make an impact.

Second Quarter Economic Indicator – A look back

mmcrebuildstg on August 23, 2023

2023 Q1 economic indicators

As we quickly pass Q2 and move into Q3, we are starting to understand better how the year will shape up. I recently had a chance to review The Conference Board’s (TCB) website for a description of what they see ahead. TCB’s mission is to be a “member-driven think tank that delivers Trusted Insights for What’s Ahead to help our members improve performance and better serve society.”  In a bullet point summary, TCB’s most recent update included:

  • Real GDP rose by 2.4% in Q2 ahead of the expected 1.8% forecasted. This resulted from a weakening demand in consumer consumption being more than offset by business investment.
  • Consumer consumption growth of both goods and services cooled in Q2. This trend is expected to continue for the remainder of 2023 due to three factors:
    • real disposable income is down;
    • pandemic excess savings are gone, and consumers are carrying historic debt levels;
    • mandatory student loan repayments are set to resume.
  • Business investment did more than offset the decrease in consumer spending in Q2, showing sizable spends in transportation equipment, facility structures and intellectual property products. However, this information came with a warning: TCB expects weakening consumer demand throughout the remainder of 2023, combined with high interest rates to reverse business spending trends.

A couple of examples from Q2 Miles-McClellan bidding and budgeting efforts:

Craig Richards, Vice President, “Our division originally bid a sizeable renovation project to a large, international CM firm. During Q3, 2021, the wall protection package was worth $6.7M and was removed from the scope of work due to being over budget. The package was rebid during Q2 of 2023 at $7.6M. This was a 13% increase in 18 months.”

Matt Recchiuti, Vice President, “Our team recently rebid a steel package. Our original steel package was quoted at $53,500 in February 2023, and after the project rebid in August 2023, the final (unchanged) steel package was purchased for $58,000. This is almost a 17% annualized increase in steel pricing.” 

Kevin Joseph, Project Executive, “One notable and frustrating reality that my team faces is the fact that more than half of the projects we bid this past quarter were so far over budget that the project could not proceed. It seems that across various industries and types of projects, owner’s budgets have not caught up with the price increases that exist in Central Ohio. Some owners mention that they plan to wait to rebid work once prices decrease, but we have not seen any indication that this is a realistic plan.”

While at times it may feel like we are spinning our wheels with all the budgets and rebidding, we would rather provide realistic, inclusive budgets and bids then submit low numbers with the hope of winning and not failing.

Using Our Construction Experience to Build Excellence

mmcrebuildstg on August 1, 2023


Building excellence and exceeding client expectations has been our core philosophy for over 45 years, and it is our exceptional team that allows us to accomplish this mission. Throughout the years, our team members have worked on a magnitude of different complex projects for clients of all sizes in all industries. This provides our clients with many advantages. Whatever your construction project or needs, we have the skills and expertise to ensure your satisfaction!

Let’s explore how we can make our construction experience work for you.

Diverse Expertise

From residential, commercial, healthcare, higher education, manufacturing, and hotels, we have done it all!  Having this knowledge and experience allows us to handle different project complexities and requirements effectively. Wherever there is a construction challenge, we have a smarter construction solution.

We Know the Industry

Our range of experience means we know the intricacies of a variety of industries and their environments. Every industry has unique needs that must be met, best practices that must be observed and certain technology that is required to help operations run more smoothly. We have had years of experience working within these different guidelines depending on our client, which is why we are confident we are more than prepared to handle even the most complex details of your construction project.

We Build Lifelong Relationship

Being a top construction company since 1978, and having numerous team members with a vast array of broad construction experience, means we have built strong relationships with our clients, suppliers, subcontractors, architects, engineers and other industry partners. This also allows us to provide a variety of different services that other construction companies can’t offer. Whatever your dreams are for your next construction project, we know an expert that can turn that vision into a reality!

Efficient Project Management

Having broad construction experience means our project management systems and processes have been refined to be as efficient as possible. Every Miles-McClellan project is guided by some of the most respected and experienced construction professionals in the industry along with an IMMPact team that shares insights and knowledge with each other to achieve building excellence.

Client Satisfaction is Top Priority

Experienced construction firms recognize the significance of pleasing the client. This is why at Miles-McClellan Construction, we stress communication, transparency and collaboration throughout the life of a construction project. We want to know all of our clients’ needs, get their feedback and help them with tough decisions. This results in building lifelong relationships.

How can our broad construction experience make your next project a success? Contact us and let’s work together to find out!

Miles-McClellan Construction vice president Brad Bloomberg LEED AP Helps Improve Safety at Columbus City Schools With HVAC Renovation

mmcrebuildstg on June 30, 2023

HVAC Renovation

When many think of construction projects, they immediately envision work that involves creating or updating the aesthetic aspects of a facility. At Miles-McClellan Construction, however, some of our most rewarding construction projects involve renovating critical components of a space that cannot necessarily be appreciated at first glance. When performing a design build of HVAC systems, it is crucial the various HVAC components and coordination of materials are timed correctly to ensure a successful installation. For our work with Columbus City Schools, under the direction of Miles-McClellan Construction vice president and project lead Brad Bloomberg LEED AP, improving HVAC systems has been an important part of building success and creating a safer space for students and the community.

In 2021, Miles-McClellan Construction was hired by Columbus City Schools to replace the HVAC systems and make electrical upgrades at Brookhaven High School and Dominion Middle School in an effort to improve the learning environment at both buildings. In addition to HVAC system upgrades, Miles-McClellan Construction was also given the task of making interior repairs, envelope repairs and site improvements in accordance with the design criteria. With the leadership of Brad and a strong IMMPact team, this project was completed on time and under the allocated budget.

“I enjoy how the construction industry always brings new challenges and creates new opportunities with each project to bid and builds.”

– Brad Bloomberg LEED AP, Miles-McClellan Construction vice president

In 2022, Columbus City Schools hired Miles-McClellan Construction to make HVAC and electrical upgrades at Valleyview Elementary School, Westgate Elementary School and West Broad Elementary School. Matt and his team realized that these projects required the replacement of the HVAC systems, new electrical service and both structural and architectural elements to support the new systems. All team members worked strategically to make sure all of the design, build and necessary components were in place, resulting in this project being completed on-time and without issues. These projects also minimized environmental hazards and supported student health. Projects such as this are not only fulfilling but continue our mission of building excellence in the community.

Strong leaders such as Brad and a talented, dedicated team make Miles-McClellan Construction the construction company that can do it all. From reviving the look of physical structures to improving the behind-the-scenes systems that keep the citizens of our community safe and healthy, we build success from start to finish.

We are up to the challenge of ensuring every construction project is a success! Contact us today and meet Brad and more faces behind the spaces that make an impact in the community!

Exceptional Design-Build Services Start With Exceptional Leadership

mmcrebuildstg on May 29, 2023

Design-Build Services

At Miles-McClellan Construction, we know that great leaders achieve great results. This is why our design-build construction projects are guided by experienced project leaders and strategically mapped out by an integrated, cohesive IMMPact team that holds each other accountable to building excellence.

With design-build construction projects, a design-build firm such as Miles-McClellan Construction works with our architect partner as they are designing the project. This approach offers several benefits, including enhanced coordination of materials, improved communication, efficient scheduling, increased project speed and better oversight and control. Let’s explore the process involved with design-build projects, and why it’s quickly becoming the top project delivery method.

Scheduling

At Miles-McClellan Construction, we always strive to complete projects on time. We make sure we understand project goals early, and always communicate risks to the whole team from the very beginning, which increases the opportunity for savings and efficient planning. Using the design-build integrated approach allows the construction schedule to be developed concurrently with the design process and identify potential bottlenecks. During design and pre-construction we also analyze the marketplace for current labor force availability, material order backlogs and current/future bidding schedules of major projects in the area. This gives us the opportunity to time our bid around the surpluses to ensure the most competitive pricing.

Coordination of Materials

For our design-build projects, our IMMPACT teams start collaborating from the early stages. This collaboration enables us to identify and select the best materials for your project, and stay on budget and within schedule. Material purchasing requires taking several different factors into consideration, such as availability, cost-effectiveness, sustainability and staying compliant with building codes and regulations. Working in sync throughout this process allows us to streamline material procurement, reduce delays and have materials delivered on time to your construction site. We also

Communication

Communicate, communicate, communicate! Effective communication is crucial in design-build projects, which is why our IMMPact team approach is incredibly effective. It promotes knowledge sharing and enables our team members to trust one another and collectively hold each other accountable to build excellence and ensure client satisfaction. This efficient communication helps address potential issues, minimize delays, resolve conflicts and keeps everyone informed throughout the project.

Completion, Oversight and Control

Our integrated design-build approach means that we are responsible for overseeing and controlling the entire project from start to finish. This provides a higher level of accountability, and also gives us the authority to make decisions promptly, resolve issues promptly and ensure that the project is completed on time and within budget. Construction is a puzzle with many solutions, some of which are more cost effective than others.

Led by talented, experienced leaders and our IMMPact teams, design-build construction projects offer enhanced coordination of materials, streamlined communication, optimized scheduling and the assurance that our clients receive a high level of excellence and customer satisfaction from pre-construction to the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Are you ready to make an IMMPact with your next design-build project? Then contact Miles-McClellan Construction and discover how we can help you build excellence!