Regional Connections
Schenectady
I’m excited to open this issue of Regional Connections, as my role at LeChase is all about building connections – within the company, the industry and the community. In many ways, it’s a role I’ve prepared for most of my life.
A second-generation construction professional, I worked summer and winter breaks throughout high school and college. Starting in the warehouse at 16, I joined a laborer’s union at 17 – pouring concrete and doing other types of work that LeChase “self-performs” on jobsites. After moving to Schenectady in 2005, I worked in project engineering and management, which helped me understand the coordination needed between all parties to deliver a successful project.
Raising my family here, I also grew to appreciate the positive impact our projects had in improving local services, housing, education and industry – making the region an even better place to live.
My journey from “hands-on” to the “big picture” has given me broad perspective of the construction process… and I believe that perspective can be useful for you as well.
If you are looking for a construction partner, I’m here to discuss the methods, materials, technologies and scheduling options that can meet your needs. If I don’t have an answer, I have the connections to find it.
If you are looking for a community partner, I can see if there’s a fit with LeChase. Whether it’s taking part in a local activity or event, helping to mentor small businesses in our industry or giving students more insight into what we do – we are always looking at meaningful ways to connect with the community.
I’ve enjoyed the opportunity to meet many of you at events over the past couple of years, but I am always looking for opportunities to strengthen connections across the region. If we’ve met, please stay in touch. If we haven’t met, please feel free to reach out.
My door is always open.
Project Highlights
One of the nation’s largest specialty cheese producers, BelGioioso Cheese has operated in the Schenectady area since purchasing the former Capiello’s Dairy plant in 2011. Now, the Wisconsin-based company is expanding locally with construction of a new 96,000-SF plant in Glenville, N.Y.
When BelGioioso looked for a local partner in New York’s Capital Region to act as general contractor for the project, LeChase Account Executive Mike Corey felt LeChase was the right firm.
After all, LeChase has capability to self-perform concrete work, which was needed for the foundations and slab. The company also has deep experience with precast concrete and concrete masonry units (CMU), which would be the basis of the structure. With more than 20 years in the area, LeChase also has the staff, subcontractor relationships and a solid understanding of applicable codes and regulations. In addition, the company is very familiar with the type of job, having previously delivered more than a half-billion dollars in local manufacturing and technology projects.
In talking with BelGioioso, Mike also conveyed LeChase’s ability to deal with a project that – due to an aggressive schedule – may be subject to changes in scope and design as it moved forward.
Receiving the contract from BelGioioso, LeChase started work in April. When completed in early 2020, the new plant will produce mozzarella and other products from the BelGioioso portfolio – which includes more than 30 varieties of cheeses.
QUICK FACTS
- LeChase role: Construction Manager-at-Risk
- Scope of work: Construction of 96,000-SF manufacturing facility
- Started: April 2019
- Completion: January 2020
Passengers from across New York’s Capital Region as well as Northeastern New York and Western New England rely on the Albany International Airport when travelling. To better serve those customers, the airport has recently embarked on a number of improvements, including a new 1,050-space parking garage at the site.
LeChase has two of the three contracts involved in building the garage. The first covered the sitework and foundation.
Although the garage is on a space previously occupied by two surface parking lots, preparing the site required more than just removing the asphalt. Extensive work was required to address the many underground utilities beneath the lots. This included removing and relocating electrical and fiber optics as well as storm, water and sewer systems. Work had to be completed before the 486 piles required to support the garage were driven down into the bedrock. LeChase crews drove piles this spring and then added pile caps, slabs and foundations for the building.
That allowed the precast contractor to start its work – placing more than 800 precast concrete beams that will form the structure of the garage. Once that is done, LeChase will begin a general construction package that covers masonry as well as mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems. To finish the project, LeChase will also construct a heated pedestrian walkway to the terminal building – providing easy access from the third level of the garage.
QUICK FACTS:
- LeChase role: General Contractor
- Scope of LeChase work:
- Relocation of underground utilities
- Slab and foundation system for building
- Masonry, concrete, M/E/P to complete the precast structure
- Pedestrian bridge to terminal
- Capacity: parking for 1,050 vehicles
- Started: March 2019
- Completion: March 2020
Although LeChase is often the primary contractor on projects, it sometimes performs work for other industry peers. That’s the case with a waste water pump station LeChase is building on the Harriman Office Campus in Albany, N.Y. LeChase is a subcontractor to WMJ Keller and Sons – the firm with overall responsibility for adding sanitation infrastructure to serve new buildings on the campus.
LeChase self-performed all concrete work for the footings, slabs, foundations and foundation walls. Afterwards, its crews will start construction of the main superstructure. LeChase is also responsible for fireproofing systems and interior construction within the pump station – including walls, windows, doors, stairs and finishes
Having started work this spring, LeChase should complete the station in late 2019, with commissioning starting in early 2020 – aligned with Keller’s schedule for the overall project.
QUICK FACTS
- LeChase role: Subcontractor
- Scope of work:
- Foundations
- Construction of waste water pump station, including interior finishes
- Approximate size: 2,025-SF footprint, approximately 3,500 SF of floor area.
- Start: Spring 2019
- Completion: Early 2020
