The Construction Source America
The Construction Source America
The Construction Source America Welcome to the latest issue of Construction Source America, where we highlight the best of the best in building and building products across the United States. In this edition, we look at a spectrum of companies and organizations across America’s building sector. This time out, our features are particularly diverse – they include an industry-leading lighting design firm, a world-class casino and resort, and a heavy equipment playground. The lighting design firm is Lighting Design Alliance, an internationally-known, full-service company that has delivered thousands of lighting projects across the United States, to clients including Disney and Universal Studios. Over their 20 years in business, they have wonmore than 300 industry awards for their industry-leading work. We talked to founder and CEO Chip Israel about that history and recognition, and also about some of the misconceptions about lighting design – namely, the idea that it’s prohibitively expensive. He wants builders and owners to know that lighting designers can make their product better at an affordable price. The casino, meanwhile, is the Atlantic Casino Resort Spa in Reno, Nevada. Over the years, their facilities have been in a constant state of rejuvenation and improvement, and that’s never been truer than today. We talked to Director of Facilities Perry Sanders about that continuous evolution, the resulting acclaim, and their company’s vision to be “not just the best place in Reno, but the best place in Nevada.” Then there’s the heavy equipment playground – Dig This (Las Vegas.) That’s a space where kids and grown-ups can drive real earthmoving machines. On TripAdvisor, they are Vegas’ number one rated venue for ‘Fun & Games.’ We talked to owner Ed Mumm about that achievement, about how the company has safely adapted to the pandemic, and about his exciting vision for the future. For more on those stories – and more stories like them, from across the construction spectrum – just keep on reading. All the best, The Editorial Team We will keep adding business units that enhance our offering and separate us from our competition. “ ” Editor From The Dear Reader,
The Construction Source America Hardware vendors want to sell hardware, while cloud vendors want to sell, well, the cloud. But what if a vendor didn’t force you to choose one or the other? What if they worked with your team to assemble the best combination of on-premise and cloud IT infrastructure to meet your needs? Introducing Decisive, your Leading IT Solution Experts, and the makers of BriteSky. . . . and the team behind it. More and more businesses are taking advantage of the benefits of the cloud, but often added complexity and risk come along for the ride. Designed for your business, BriteSky gives you a fully-featured enterprise cloud solution that is secure, simple, easy-to-use and Canadian. So you can spend less time managing the cloud and more time focusing on your business. The enterprise cloud . . . Contact Decisive today to find out how we can work together to build the right IT solution for your business. Get in touch at info@decisive.ca or 1.613.836.3700
The Construction Source America
The Construction Source America With over 90,000 senior executive readers, The Construction Source is proud to offer an attractive platform to share you message with the people that matter most - your customers. Whether your objective is to promote a new condo development, attract financial investment in your upcoming projects, or to build brand recognition, we stand ready to help! To find out more about having your company or latest project feature in The Construction Source, please contact our Group Publisher. Jermaine Poulsen e: info@theconstructionsource.net The Costruction Source Canada 2201 - 250 Yonge St Toronto, Ontario M5B 2L7 E: info@theconstructionsource.net Group Publisher Jermaine Poulsen General Manager Alexandra Box Operations Manager Joshua Stewart-Boyd Head of Editorial Content Allen Bishop Production Manager Vicki Lee Editor Zach Janes Graphics Design Pranim Thapa
The Construction Source America 3M Helping you be safe with the right fall protection equipment Lighting Design Alliance Leading edge lighting Atlantis Casino Resort The best place Dig This Las Vegas An adult sandbox with heavy equipment Compass Industrial Specialized services on overhead cranes National Roofing Top quality experience & services Product of THE MONTH IN THIS ISSUE JUNE 2022 COMPASS INDUSTRIAL NATIONAL ROOFING LIGHTING DESIGN ALLIANCE
The Construction Source America DIG THIS LAS VEGAS
Helping You Be Safe with the Right Fall Protection Equipment Imagine working 10 feet above the ground. Now imagine working on top of a roof about 50 feet above the ground.
PRODUCT OF THE MONTH Imagine working 10 feet above the ground. Now imagine working on top of a roof about 50 feet above the ground. And now, think about constructing a skyscraper and being 50 stories in the air. Fall protection equipment is an essential component of your safety. But, more than that, you need to know how to use the equipment properly. For this, you need adequate training and an understanding of what is required to be compliant.
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Some of the most dangerous aspects of working at height are leading edge situations. This is work conducted with an unprotected edge, perimeter or border where a fall hazard exists. Typically, a leading edge situation will force a lifeline or lanyard to ‘bend’ over the edge in the event of a fall over the edge. Additionally, many leading edges also present sharp edge hazards that can fray or even sever a lifeline as it bends over the edge. Here are some other risks that exist due to leading and sharp edge situations: • Increased fall distance be- cause typical anchor point is at foot level • Unpredictable lock up speed – a self-retracting device will only sense a fall when user’s D-ring moves past the leading edge • Increased fall clearance re quirement due to the in- creased fall distance • Increased arresting forces • Potential for sharp edge to cut or severely damage life line • Increased potential for swing falls Currently, the ANSI/ASSP Z359.14 standard for Self-Retracting Lifelines (“SRLs”) has specific test criteria that include testing to simulate added free fall distance, testing performed over sharp steel edge (.005 inch radius), and testing for swing fall over steel edge as well as straight down. One of the Leaders in Leading Edge Protection PRODUCT OF THE MONTH “Typically, a leading edge situation will force a lifeline or lanyard to ‘bend’ over the edge in the event of a fall over the edge.”
Note that there is a difference between leading edge (“LE”) and non-leading edge rated fall protection equipment. With LE equipment, the lifeline material is typically larger, stronger, and more cut resistant. You can use LE rated products on a variety of edge surfaces, such as concrete, and they can be used on finished concrete with a rounded edge. A Competent Person must be involved in selecting the appropriate equipment for your application and have ownership of the setup, which involves training. You should feel free to consult with us about your application needs and reference the ANSI Z359 . ALL ANSI/ASSP Z359.14 LE devices MUST have a shock absorbing method between the worker and the SRL. There are also clearance requirements for LE rated products. Typically, more fall clearance is required because of added free fall distance when anchored at foot level. The exact clearance depends on product type, anchorage point location and user weight. For example, SRL-LE “They have highcapacity and uniform energy absorption designed to balance peak force, capacity and deflection.” THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AMERICA
models anchored at foot level, set back from edge and with swing fall possible, will exceed 15 ft. of required fall clearance. Recently, on July 25, 2019, 3M Fall Protection announced an immediate stop use and recall of all 3M™ DBI-SALA® TwinLeg Nano-Lok™ edge SRLs and 3M™ DBI-SALA® Twin-Leg Nano-Lok™ Wrap Back SRLs due to potential partial deployment of the energy absorber under limited circumstances. On August 6, 2019, 3M announced it had resolved the issue on the ANSI version of the Twin-Leg Nano-Lok edge SRLs (these are leading edge models) and identified units that could be repaired. The solution means that these units have been certified to ANSI Z359.14 and, once repaired, are safe to return to service (repaired units are identified by a green check mark on the front label). The stop use and recall is ongoing. For more information regarding the original Stop Use and Recall Notice and all updates regarding affected products, see www. nanolokedgerecall.com. PRODUCT OF THE MONTH “This is what’s really going to put Guelph on the map.”
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PRODUCT OF THE MONTH How do you improve on one of the best permanent horizontal lifeline (HLL) systems in the industry? You give it robust cloudbased software that makes it easy to calculate and design systems. And you make it easier to install and use. Then you design it with components that make the system stronger and offer more uniform energy absorption. The 3M™ DBI-SALA® 8 mm Permanent Horizontal Lifeline Systems make it easier for you to design, specify and install HLL systems across a variety of industries, applications and orientations than ever before. These systems meet the requirements of OSHA 1926.502 and have stainless steel components to help provide long-term corrosion resistance. They have high-capacity and uniform energy absorption designed to balance peak force, capacity and deflection. The robust travelers offer continuous system travel, including bypass of intermediate and corner brackets and incorporate a large D-ring for easy connection. They are designed for use on modern building projects, refurbishments and industrial safety applications, and can be fitted to steel beams, concrete and brickwork. They are suitable for use on older roof constructions in conjunction with fabricated anchor posts. These systems represent another type of fall protection that can be a vital component of your safety protocol. Horizontal Lifelines “We also offer on-site safety training across our portfolio customized to the unique environment of your facility.”
THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AMERICA Equipment is only one part of the equation when it comes to protecting workers at height. Fall protection equipment and PPE are often misused, thus creating an inefficient or improper system. Training on how to use the equipment properly and how to work safely in dangerous environments is paramount. At 3M, we have a dedicated customer service team, a fleet of demonstration trucks that will go on-site to your location, as well as extremely knowledgeable sales coverage across the US and around the world. This fleet of specialized demonstration vehicles can bring onsite, hands-on fall protection demonstrations to your workforce. This provides an excellent introduction and awareness to fall protection and safety at height. When it comes to protecting your workers, 3M Safety Training offers a variety of classes and services to meet your needs. Our full range of fall protection, confined space and rescue training courses are offered through the year at our stateof-the-art training centers. We also offer on-site safety training across our portfolio customized to the unique environment of your facility. Training “At 3M, we have a dedicated customer service team, a fleet of demonstration trucks that will go on-site to your location, as well as extremely knowledgeable sales coverage across the US and around the world. ”
3M has a dedicated team of experienced instructors around the world. Our U.S. trainers come from backgrounds including fire service, search and rescue, occupational health and safety, law enforcement, and military service. We also have knowledge and expertise in oil and gas, transportation, construction, utilities, mining and many other industries, enabling our instructors to optimize the training experience for your workers. At our site or yours, our instructors deliver quality training focused on learner engagement, knowledge retention, and practical handson exercises. Our Instructors Open Enrollment Safety Training 3M Safety Training has a network of centers across the U.S., including key locations in Red Wing, MN, Houston, TX, and Orange County, CA. Our centers are designed to immerse the student in extensive hands-on exercises that will prepare them for the diverse demands of your job sites. Our open enrollment classes are a great opportunity to learn with other safety professionals from various industries while receiving industry-leading safety training. PRODUCT OF THE MONTH
Train your team in their own work environment with our onsite training. We’ll send one of our experienced trainers along with the necessary safety training equipment to provide your team with world-class safety training. This avoids the disruption of sending your workforce offsite. Choose from our complete safety training portfolio or work with 3M Safety Training to modify a course to meet your specific training requirements. On-site Safety Training “Thinking About Fall Protection” is an 11-part educational video series designed to give an awareness overview of the basics of working safely at height. The series covers the ABCD’s of fall protection, at-height fundamentals, fall clearance calculations, and types of falls and hazards. The video series is not a substitute for certified training but does provide an excellent introduction to the topic. Watch Our Free Videos THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AMERICA
We also offer virtual reality training, which can be a great additional resource because it: • Helps training be more enjoyable and engaging • Assists in improving retention and recall • Suitable for different learning styles and a multi-generational workforce • Encourages companies to continually review basic safety standards • Helps reveal individual opportunities for improvement VR Training We offer a broad curriculum of courses in our training centers around the world, from fall protection and rescue to specialty courses for a particular trade or industry. Many facilities also offer on-site training options that bring our experienced trainers and comprehensive programs right to your facility. With our history of innovation and excellence, 3M Personal Safety Division offers customers the quality products, expertise and service of the trusted 3M™ DBI-SALA® and 3M™ Protecta® Fall Protection brands. With 3M Fall Protection equipment, you can help elevate your employees’ safety and comfort to new heights. Worldwide Training Facilities PRODUCT OF THE MONTH *3500214 3M™ DBI-SALA® Nano-Lok™ edge Quick-Connect Self-Retracting Lifeline 8 ft. (2.4 m) lifeline with 3/16 in. (5 mm) galvanized steel wire rope and aluminum captive carabiner, quick connector for harness mounting. Systems designed to make everyone’s job easier. *Anchor posts not supplied by 3M Fall Protection.
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Leading edge lighting
Lighting Design Alliance (LDA) is an internationally known, full-service architectural lighting design firm located in Long Beach, California. Since forming in 1992, they have delivered almost 7,000 projects across the United States and globally, mostly for repeat clients. Those projects have varied greatly in size, scale, and complexity, but all were designed with the goal of using lighting to enhance the impact of an architectural space. The company’s success in achieving that goal is reflected by their repeat business – they have been working with many of their clients for more than 20 years – and by their extremely long list of industry awards – which is almost 300 accolades long.
VERS A family full of VERSatility Introducing VERS, Q-Tran’s first family of versatile linear lighting fixtures. Available in multiple variations: Proud, Flush, Clear, Grazer, Optics, Encapsulated, Louver, Insert, and Asymmetric. All VERS fixtures feature high-quality, robust aluminum housings and are available in satin, black, bronze, and white finishes with machined metal end caps. A small 0.88” wide profile allows for mounting discreetly into any architectural detail. Mounting options include a concealed mounting clip or a convenient magnet option making installation and repositioning effortless. The VERS family of linear fixtures is suitable for indoor or outdoor use. Currently available with static white, high efficacy, dynamic white, static color, RGB, and RGBW LEDs to make for truly unique lighting fixtures. www.q-tran.com | sales@q-tran.com | (203) 367-8777 99°-115° 102°-115° 12°-18° 100° 40°-50° 100°-115° 120° 85°-95° 30° 45° VERS PROUD VERS GRAZER VERS LOUVER VERS FLUSH VERS OPTICS VERS INSERT VERS CLEAR VERS ENCAPSULATED VERS ASYMMETRIC
Utah Residence Rep: SCI Lighting Solutions Designer: Mark & Aly Interior Design Location: Park City, Utah Product: VERS Grazer
For example, there’s the IES Illumination Awards – they recognize individuals and companies across the country for their professionalism, ingenuity, and originality in lighting design. Over the years, LDA has won well over 300 of those trophies. In 2020 alone, they won 10 of them. Charles “Chip” Israel is the co-CEO of the company, and he credits that incredible consistency of acclaim to their commitment to staying on the leading edge, educating clients, and “treating projects as if they were our own.” “Lighting is a marriage of art and science, and science is always evolving,” he says. “As a company, we have to evolve along with it. We have to make sure we’re always using the best and most appropriate technology, that we’re providing the best design solutions, and thatwe’re constantlymonitoring installation and fixture cost to protect our clients.” Kyllene “Kelly” Jones is also co-CEO of LDA. She further credits the company’s success, and particularly the loyalty of their clients, to their lasting commitment to every job – “not just in the design phase, but all the way through construction.” “We always want to see our design vision through to the end of construction and on opening day,” she says. JUNE 2022 “Many of them we get right out of school, and most of them stick around,” he explains. “We have at least half a dozen people who have been here close to 20 years.”
THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AMERICA Architectural – Landscape – Outdoor Lighting Manufacturer for f ine luminaires We work with lighting designers to create fixtures that will achieve their desired aesthetic and functional objectives. Product categories include: Accent Fixtures Wall Sconces GOBO Image Projectors Catenary Down Lights Step Lights Path Lights In-Grades Bollards Sign Lights Accessories Custom Fixtures WE BUILD FIXTURES THAT LAST INNOVATION – PERFORMANCE – AESTHETIC www.hkl ight inggroup.com
JUNE 2022 “That’s what keeps our clients coming back. We go above and beyond. We will often exceed the amount of site visits in our contract. If there is something to troubleshoot, we’re going to be there.” “While we are known as a design company, in reality we are a service company,” Chip adds. “We must provide the best service to our clients, architects, and even the contracting teams.” “That means when there’s a problem, we jump in and we fix it,” he explains. “We never say ‘It’s not our problem, somebody must have changed something.’ We come up with a solution. It’s that strong service through the construction administration portion that really gives the client what they pay for.” Chip has a background in architectural engineering – as does Kelly and most of their staff. After earning a degree from Penn State, Chip spent time working locally for Lutron Electronics and then Grenald Associates (GA), now known as Grenald Waldron Associates (GWA). He ended up transferring to Los Angeles with GA. In 1992, he and his wife, Lisa Israel, now CFO, purchased the L.A. office with the goal of striking out on their own. With Chip’s award-winning designs and Lisa’s proactive business expertise, the LDA team rapidly grew from three people to 25, which has been their average ever since. Also, the scale of their projects quickly grew – they started off doing smaller jobs, but less than a decade in they had graduated to doing major works with industry titans such as Disney, Universal Studios, along with several other commercial, retail, and hospitality clients. These days, LDA has the expertise to design and specify complete lighting and controls systems. Their services range from concept development to fully documented lighting design, from custom fixture design to designing with only standard products. They also have the resources to
Say hello to STENOS, Luminii’s smallest, slimline linear product family. Featuring both a downlight and track solution, these discreet architectural lighting accents support a wide variety of applications, including high-end residential, museum, hospitality, commercial office, and retail environments. Engineered with industry-leading optical design, STENOS profiles push more light forward to deliver superior uniform light output, color uniformity, and high CRI. EXPLORE STENOS TRACK AND DOWNLIGHT AT LUMINII.COM Think Small. THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AMERICA
JUNE 2022
THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AMERICA run complex illumination calculations, daylighting analysis, life cycle analysis, and cost comparative studies. So, the company has the capacity and experience necessary to take on extremely large, extremely complex projects – but that doesn’t mean they shun the smaller jobs. “We don’t turn anybody down,” Chip says. “Some people have said that’s a bad business practice, but I think the reality is it’s just the opposite.” “A smaller project might not be very profitable, but what it gives us is an excellent opportunity to mentor our younger employees,” he explains. “It gives them a chance to get involved, to run the job, to do the design work. That gives them an awful lot of confidence for the future.” Also, smaller jobs turn around faster – a large scale project might take five years from design through to installation, where a smaller project might take six months. LDA believes the experience of actually building a project is very valuable for young designers. “That’s really where you find out if your designs work or don’t work,” Chip says. “It doesn’t matter if it looks good on a blueprint or in AutoCAD or Revit. What matters is if it works on site and that it meets the client’s requirements and expectations. If it doesn’t, what matters is fixing it. That’s the best way to continually learn and ensure a happy client, which typically leads to future work.”
JUNE 2022 That emphasis on staff development, Chip believes, is one of LDA’s main points of difference. He says the company “works hard on hiring the best people” – and once they acquire them, he says they do everything they can to retain them. “Many of them we get right out of school, and most of them stick around,” he explains. “We have at least half a dozen people who have been here close to 20 years.” Kelly joined LDA in 1999 after graduating from the University of Kansas with a Bachelor of Science in Architectural Engineering. She’s been with the company ever since as she quickly moved into a Senior Designer role, then Principal, and now co-CEO and Partner. She also now serves on the Advisory Board of KU’s School of Architecture and Design. “When you work here, you’re given an opportunity,” she says. “When you are a junior designer, you have the support of the senior team, but you also have ownership of what you’re doing. You can be creative. You can develop and maintain clients. You’re encouraged to ask questions; you’re encouraged to go out in the field and actually experience what you do.” “It’s such a collaborative environment,” she adds. “That’s one of the reasons why I think people want to work here.” LDA is also active philanthropically. Chip believes that activity is important to employees, especially the current generation of students and graduates. For example, LDA has offered a scholarship program for over 20 years; they are heavily involved with professional societies; they devote a lot of their time and money to charity. More recently, they started the efforts on a second scholarship. Chip also started the IALD Education Fund. Over the past year, they began the process of buying and collecting backpacks, filling them with sleeping bags and other essentials, and distributing them to homeless people through local shelters. “We try to have all of our people engaged in something important,” he says. “We don’t care whether that’s through us or not. It’s just about giving back. It’s not just a sales tool. We just believe if everybody helps everybody else out, we could have a better world.” On the topic of improving the world, LDA is also passionate about environmental sustainability. They design every project to be as efficient as possible – and they have set the example with their own office, which is designed to be net-zero and LEED Platinum. “We’ve put our money where our mouth is,” Chip says. “We can tell our clients: ‘Trust us because we’ve done it here.’ We can bring them in, and they can walk around and experience it first-hand. That usually goes a long way towards convincing them that sustainability is the way to go.” Taken together, Chip says the philanthropy and the sustainability creates a culture that is “very enticing for clients but rewarding for us and our staff.” “Our corporate culture allows us to draw the most talent and we believe our creative staff is our best asset. I will always put our team up against any of our competitors, and I’ll always think we’re the best. It’s the quality of the people that are with us.”
THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AMERICA The high calibre of LDA’s team is not just Chip’s opinion. As previously mentioned, it is also the opinion of the company’s clients – who are almost all longstanding – and the opinion of their peers in the industry – who have conferred the company with awards and accolades in the hundreds. Personally, Chip has also been awarded fellowships by both the IALD and IES for his designs, his contributions to the lighting industry, and his continual education efforts. According to Chip, that recognition means a lot to the LDA team, especially their younger contingent. “We really encourage our junior designers to submit for these awards,” he says. “We support them, we pay for the photography, and we love it when they win. We love the pride they take in it. It’s amazing when they take an award and show it off to their parents. That’s what makes it worth it.” All the options
JUNE 2022 “That’s what’s important,” he adds. “It’s not about showing a list of awards to our clients. It’s about the growth of our young people.” Kelly has also won her fair share of awards over the years, and at the 2020 Illumination Awards, she added two more to the count. She echoes Chip’s sentiments: “It’s great to see our younger designers rewarded,” she says. “As more experienced team members, when we go to those banquets and ceremonies and we see the pride and recognition, we’re reminded of why we do it.” Both Chip and Kelly also credit that awards success to the company’s extended team, including their roster of suppliers and trade partners. Many of those partners have been in the industry a long time – some a very long time – but they are equally committed to staying up-to-date. Q-Tran, for example, is a company over 30 years old, and is owned by a family that has been in the lighting business for six generations. Today, they are at the forefront of architectural lighting design and manufacturing, and they provide the highest quality and most innovative LED lighting and power supplies. There’s also Acuity Brand Lighting – their parent company dates back to 1940, and they are still a market-leading industrial technology company today. With across North
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JUNE 2022 America, Europe, and Asia, they are committed to advancing innovation. They have over 1,900 parents and patentspending worldwide, they are a frequent recipient of awards and industry recognition, and they are often featured in the media as an industry leader. Luminii is another longstanding LDA partner. For over a decade, they have been manufacturing highly modifiable and beautifully-crafted LED products and accessories. Their unique approach to design and meticulous product construction has also made them an industry leader. They continuously use innovation to help customers realize the full potential of light in their spaces. Then there’s HK Lighting Group – since 2005, they have been providing customers with innovative, unique lighting products built on the principles of longevity, performance, and clean design. They work closely with the lighting design community to stay on the cutting edge in order to remain a top choice in outdoor architectural and landscape lighting. Moving forward, LDA wants to continue working with those partners and partners like them. Together, they want to continue delivering awardworthy projects, big and small. Again, Chip emphasizes the small – he is concerned that prospective clients might look at some of LDA’s larger past projects and conclude that the company is out of their price range, but that’s almost never the case. He wants people to know that lighting designers can help make a better product without prohibitive costs. “It doesn’t matter the size of the job, we just want to make every job better,” he says. “Some clients may have unlimited budgets – we once did a house in India that was a billion dollars
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JUNE 2022 for a single-family residence – but for 99.99 per cent of our clients, that’s not the case.” “I think we have a very practical point of view,” he adds. “That’s what our clients have told us historically. We know how things get built, how things go together, and we know what it’s going to cost.” “We know how to make life easier for contractors and the rest of the team – not all lighting designers worry about that, but we know that if the contractor is not on board it’s going to be a battle all the way through. We would rather collaborate and work as a team. That’s how we make sure that what gets executed matches our vision and matches the client’s pocketbook.” LDAisalsoverythoughtful about selecting the right technology, which doesn’t always mean the most expensive technology. As Chip puts it, “We try to stay on the leading edge, but not the bleeding edge.” For example, they have lights that can mimic natural daylighting, which can help maintain a user’s circadian rhythm. “That’s a great piece of technology and it has its applications,” Chip says, “but where possible, why not put in a window instead? Get natural light and get those circadian benefits for free.” “We really try to educate the client on all the options and give strong recommendations on what’s right for their project,” he explains. “We work hard on creating the perfect application for our clients, for the best possible price.” “We truly think that we have the best jobs in the world,” Kelly adds. “As lighting designers, we are inspired every day by what we see and experience. We bring that creativity to the great projects that we get to work on which is very rewarding and something we will always want to do.” Lastly, in the future, Chip and Kelly want to maintain the company’s diversity of projects – as that is what makes it enjoyable to come to work every day. “We can be doing a corporate office one day, street lighting the next day, and then we can be doing a nine million square foot building halfway across the world,” Chip concludes. “Every day is a different challenge. Every day we are learning something new. That’s what makes it fun and makes me love going to work every day.”
THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AMERICA For more on Lighting Design Alliance and their long list of award-winning projects – and to get in touch with their team – visit https://lightingdesignalliance.com/
The best place
Located in the heart of Reno, Nevada, the Atlantis Casino Resort Spa is a destination longrecognized for its luxurious accommodations, dynamic casino action, award-winning dining options, revitalizing spa and salon, and state-of-theart meeting facilities. Over the years, they have continuously won acclaim for every facet of their property from industry publications and experts such as Forbes Travel Guide, USA Today, Casino Player, and Wine Spectator. In addition, their success is further manifested by the thousands of positive reviews on websites such as Tripadvisor – where the hotel is ranked number one overall in Reno. From its humble origins as a small one-story facility first launched in 1973, the complex has consistently grown and evolved. This evolution included the addition of a 12-story tower in 1990, and then an 18-story tower in 1993, when the property officially became known as the Atlantis. In 1998, they completed a 27-story tower – the maximum building height allowed at their location due to their proximity to the airport. In 2009, they opened the Sky Bridge – this enabled the Atlantis to be the only resort in Reno with a direct connection to the adjacent Reno Convention Centre. These continuous upgrades reaped a marketing bonanza in 2012 when the Atlantis earned the JUNE 2022 “The current leadership is not content to rest on their laurels. They are always striving to stay on the cutting edge of technology, service, and quality.”
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JUNE 2022 prestigious AAA Four Diamond rating from the American Automobile Association, one of North America’s premier hospitality rating programs. Despite the Atlantis’ torrid pace of evolution and growth, the company’s senior leadership, led by CEO John Farahi, has never been content to rest on their laurels. John has challenged management to continue to strive to maintain their hard-fought position at the cutting edge of service, quality and technology. According to Perry Sanders, Director of Facilities, it is this commitment to continuous improvement that has powered the hotel’s continued success. “We have to create an environment for constant improvement,” Sanders states. “It’s absolutely imperative. If we don’t, we’ll be left behind in today’s uber-competitive market.” Perry has personally been in the hospitality industry for over 35 years. Prior to joining the Atlantis team, he constructed hotels, timeshares, casinos, and restaurants on dozens of islands throughout the Caribbean. Next, he spent a number of years constructing large infrastructure projects around the globe before finding his way back to the hospitality industry. After returning to the United States, he maintained the 18,000-acre Marlboro Ranch, an exclusive Montana guest ranch owned by Altria, the parent company of Phillip Morris. Whileworking inMontana, Perry received the call to explore the possibility of a new position at the Atlantis. He recalls his investigation into the company, where “the more research I did, the more I was impressed.” “The management team was incredible; their track record, experience and backgrounds were stellar; and their 11 per cent debt to equity ratio was unheard of in the hospitality industry, especially in gaming where most firms are super leveraged,” he says. “Honestly, it looked too good to be true.”
THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AMERICA Since Perry joined, the Atlantis has been in a constant state of renovation and rejuvenation. During his tenure, the company has added computerized fountains at the main entry (with a coordinated water, light and gas flame show every 15 minutes), they’ve renovated the top two guest suite floors, they’ve completely renovated the newly opened Atrium Bar and Lounge, and they’ve converted Café Alfresco into a brand new Asian restaurant and dim sum bar. They have also added Paradise Suites, elevators, and escalators. They aren’t stopping there. Future plans now include the complete renovation of all bars, bathrooms, and guest rooms, while simultaneously converting the exterior facade and Porte-cochére with a whole new face lift. “It’s been a whirlwind of construction,” Perry says, “and thanks to our senior managements, it’s not stopping any time soon.” Since Perry’s arrival, the company has also implemented a computerized maintenance management system (CMMS). That system tracks all work order and asset data, as well as key performance indicators (KPIs), such as how long it takes to respond to maintenance requests, and how long it takes to complete work orders. That allows the facilities team to analyse and make course corrections at light speed. As a result of the system’s full implementation, the company they made huge productivity strides in those arenas.
JUNE 2022 Now, Perry says, when a guest calls for a repair, a technician is able to knock on the door within 11 minutes at least 85 per cent of the time. General Manager Cheraz Ecker, herself a seasoned veteran of the hospitality industry, established that non-negotiable goal early in her tenure, and the company has since surpassed it. According to Perry, it’s made a huge difference in customer satisfaction surveys. “Now we average one or two guest complaints a month,” he says. To put that simply in perspective, the hotel has 824 rooms. In a 30-day average month with the facility close to peak occupancy, that’s only one negative comment out of almost 25,000 room nights. Perry says, “That’s Six Sigma level quality, which is something our team is very proud of because no other hotel has that, period.” The company is also very proud of the sustainability measures they have put in place over the past five years. Those measures include recycling kitchen oil, baling cardboard, separating aluminium and metal trash, installing high-efficiency boilers, and converting all the lighting to high efficiency LED’s. The hotel was even the first in the United States to install a state-of-the-art Israeli water conservation system called WINT, which uses pattern recognition and algorithms to analyse water flow. The newly installed smart meters studied the property’s water usage patterns for 30 days. After that, when the meters’ algorithms detect abnormal usage, engineers are notified instantly via smartphones. “That was a first in Reno, a first in Nevada, and a first in the United States,” Perry says. “Mr. Farahi took a calculated risk with this system as the industry guinea pig but it is the type of visionary leadership that has transformed this roadside
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JUNE 2022 motor inn into a publicly traded company.” As with the implementation of most new technology, Perry recognized there was some reluctance from the facilities team to convert to the WINT system, which is common. However, he recalls being notified of a leak, which team members looked for, but could not find. After taking apart a piece of the wall, they discovered there was in fact a leak, but there happened to be an open waste pipe located directly underneath it, so all the leaking water was going into the waste pipe. “We had no way of knowing how long that leak had been happening,” Perry says. “We might never have found it otherwise. The system was right on target.” By utilizing the WINT system, the Atlantis has cut roughly 30 percent of their water usage, which adds up to thousands of gallons. That kind of environmental commitment has not gone unnoticed or unrecognized. In 2017, the Green Building Initiative (GBI) assessed the Atlantis in conjunction with Ernst and Young, and awarded the property their prestigious Four Green Globes certification, their highest rating. At the time, they were the only building in northern Nevada to achieve that certification. With senior management continuing to lead the initiative, the Atlantis is steadfast in their commitment to improving their sustainable outcomes. They recently completed installation of three new escalators which utilize infrared sensors to slow down when not in use, saving up to 40 percent in energy costs. These high-tech escalators also feature a UV handrail sanitizing system that kills 99.99 per cent of bacteria and viruses, including SARS, MERS and COVID. “We’ve gone all in with sustainability,” Perry says. “It’s extremely important to us as a company, our guests, and our community, and it opens a new frontier for us to explore in our quest for constant improvement.”
THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AMERICA Perry is extremely passionate about constant improvement and staying current with technological advancements. He credits that passion, in part, to his time at the Marlboro Ranch, where he became a staunch disciple of ‘Total Quality Improvement,’ a methodology indoctrinated by Phillip Morris. “When one of Phillip Morris’ machines goes down, they may lose a million dollars every eight minutes and up to a billion dollars in four days,” Perry says. As a result, he says they instil an almost cult-like adherence to the principles of preventative maintenance. “It’s funny, you think you know about maintenance, but until you deal with an exemplary operation like a Phillip Morris, PepsiCo, Toyota or Lockheed, you really won’t even comprehend how much you don’t know. They operate on a whole different level, truly world class.” Leading the pack
JUNE 2022 However, for this unwavering commitment to quality to be successful, it must translate to continuing education. To that end, Perry has earned several professional certifications in sustainability, facility management and project management. In addition, he also learned the intrinsic value of staying abreast of new and developing technology. “You have to be constantly developing, consistently educating yourself and continually improving,” Perry says. “Our world and correspondingly our business, is changing daily. You lose onesixth of your knowledge per year as it becomes obsolete. If you’re not vigilant about continuing ed, you will get left behind very quickly.” Perry has carried those lessons with him to Atlantis, and has taught them to his staff. When asked why his transition has been successful, he credits executive management: “The senior leadership at the Atlantis approach excellence in a very similar way to that of Phillip Morris, absolutely zero compromise,” Perry says. “It is vogue for everybody to talk about improving quality via continuing education but when it comesdown toactuallywriting the check, most companies balk and have a really great excuse. Just like Phillip Morris, John Farahi and Atlantis don’t just talk the talk, they back it up with demonstrable actions.”
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JUNE 2022 It is this type of resolute commitment that trickles down and permeates through the entire organization. The team readily sees this commitment daily as funds are pledged to continue not just rejuvenating facilities but upgrading them as well. Perry says they are going to renovate “stem-tostern, over this entire property so that it continues its tradition as the latest and greatest in the industry.” That’s a mandate directly from John Farahi and his son David, the company’s COO. They recently demonstrated their commitment to quality by launchingthealready-acclaimed Monarch Casino Resort Spa in Black Hawk, Colorado – which Perry describes as “absolutely beautiful,” and says “it’s as nice as or nicer than anything in Las Vegas.” So they have cultivated lofty standards, and they soundly believe the Atlantis will reach and exceed those standards. “Management has always made it their mission to lead the pack, not follow,” Perry concludes. “They started out wanting to be the best place in Reno, they achieved that, now they want to be the best place, period. They’re not content with just holding on to what they have. It’s because they have a vision.”
THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AMERICA For more on Atlantis Casino Resort Spa and everything they have to offer, visit https://atlantiscasino.com/
Photo: Briar McKendrick
An Adult Sandbox with Heavy Equipment
Voted Travelers’ Choice in 2013 and 2020 , Dig This is a heavyequipment playground located in Las Vegas. Described by the company and its owner, Ed Mumm, as the “world’s first adult sandbox,” visitors have an opportunity to use heavy, earth-moving machinery like excavators and bulldozers to dig, have fun, or play games. The five-acre site was the vision of Ed Mumm, who had a desire to work with heavy machinery since he was a child. His father was involved in earth-moving contracts. This allowed Mumm to observe the machinery from both afar and at a closer range. “As a kid I was always fascinated with heavy equipment. I grew up on farms. My father did a lot of subcontracting for earthmoving projects. As a kid, I always manning the stop and go sign. I never got to operate any of the equipment. So. during lunch, I would just go sit in the seat and feel what it was like. Then, I went into a farming career. I did a lot of tractor driving for 2-3 years, but again, never got on earth-moving equipment,” says Mumm. In 1992, Mumm moved to the United States where he met and married his wife. His wife had a small farming operation, which allowed him to use some heavier machine. However, nothing quite thrilled him as much as heavy construction machinery, which he had still JUNE 2022 “The business started to open in 2007. Mumm and his developing business spent the first four years situated in Colorado while refining the business model. The business then moved to a Las Vegas in 2011, which propelled the success of the attraction significantly.” Photo: Briar McKendrick
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JUNE 2022 yet to use. When he and his wife decided to build a house, the project offered Mumm an opportunity to do the excavating he wanted to try. With the help of a friend, Mumm was able to operate the excavator after a quick tutorial. Within the two hours he spent on the excavator, he saw a real business opportunity. “For two hours I was in heaven,” Mumm notes. “It occurred to me, that if I’m having this good of time, imagine the amount of people that would love to do this but can’t. I saw a business opportunity and looked into putting together a heavy equipment attraction.” The business started to open in 2007.Mummandhisdeveloping business spent the first four years situated in Colorado while refining the business model. The business then moved to a Las Vegas in 2011, which propelled the success of the attraction significantly. Mumm points to the vibrant diversity of people in Las Vegas as one of the key contributors to the success of the business. There are visitors from all over the word looking for fun, and they often find themselves at Dig This. Corporate entities looking for events and team building activities further supply the Dig This with clientele. The facility in Las Vegas houses a range of equipment, including excavators, bulldozers, and track-type skid steers. It may seem like Dig This is only fitting for adults; however, the business offers opportunities for individuals aged three years and older. Regardless of age, Dig This fills the desire to run heavy machinery. Mumm notes, “Three percent of the population is involved in heavy equipment construction. The other 97 percent are driving past construction sites all the time. All the people that come here say we pass construction sides all the time and say, ‘we wish we could have a go at that.’ So, all the contractors are doing the advertisement for us. We have been able to provide that Photo: Briar McKendrick
THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AMERICA experience and oblige to the curiosity. A lot of us never really grew up out of our sandboxes anyway.” With Dig This, anyone can hop back into the sandbox by playing excavator basketball, digging with the machinery, driving the obstacle course, or stacking tires with the skid steer track loader. Dig This even has an “Aggression Session” where you can crush cars with a 36,900-pound excavator. With so much equipment and so many activities, there is something to please everyone. Ed Mumm indicates that part of the great rating on TripAdvisor is dependent upon the instructors at the business. The instructors are selected from a pool of candidates based on their abilities to connect with others and foster a positive learning experience. “A lot of operators are rough,” Mumm adds. “We are looking for a Disney-like experience. We want people that can adapt to all different learning requirements from students. Some people have a natural gift of being good with people. People talk about the instructor first and experience second. They create a relationship.” That idea of fostering positive relationship extends to their machinery suppliers. For example, the company has been able to form a stronger business relationship with Caterpillar. “The resources they provide us are great. The support as far Photo: Briar McKendrick
JUNE 2022 Photo: Briar McKendrick
Photo: Briar McKendrick THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AMERICA as maintenance is fantastic. They have taken the time to understand what we do. We have been able to formulate a program that works for us. They love what we do, and we are a good representation of encouraging people to go into the industry.” The encouragement extends beyond the adult sandbox to the company’s now NCCER accredited training unit. Dig This has the capability of training individuals entering the industry who are looking to become equipment operators. After the required permits are passed, Dig This plans to begin training operators in fall 2021. Mumm describes, “It is about a 150-hour course with a core curriculum they learn online and then we teach them on equipment with an experienced facilitator. It serves a need. There is a lack of operators nationwide. We are going to provide that kickstart program that will transition into an apprenticeship or on-job training.” The training program is a step towards company diversification. In fact, Dig This is also consulting on TV shows and movies where heavy equipment operators are needed. However, theattraction will always remain the core program at the attraction site in Las Vegas. Moving towards the future, Mumm mentions that he would like to see the business open in other parts of the word and within the country. While there is a second location at Bill Richardson’s Transport World in Invercargill, New Zealand, he would like to see more opportunities open for more heavy equipment playgrounds.
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