Andersen Construction

A step in the right direction┬áAs one of the largest construction firms in the Pacific Northwest, Andersen looks to family values and a quality reputation to grow its business, Linda Seid Frembes learns from director of business development Steve Tinney. Andersen Construction of Portland, Oregon, is built on a foundation of quality building practices and long-term client dedication due to the values of its founder, Andy Andersen. Founded in 1950, Andersen Construction has grown into one of the largest construction firms in the Pacific Northwest. The firmÔÇÖs projects are known for excellent construction and thoughtful, sustainable design.ÔÇ£Our firm introduced tilt-up construction to the Northwest region. Andy had seen the technique in California, so he borrowed $10,000 and started his own company with just a pickup truck and a wheelbarrow,ÔÇØ explains Steve Tinney, director of business development for Andersen Construction, who is responsible for sales, marketing and promotion to the developer community. ÔÇ£The benefits of tilt-up are that it goes up faster and is more cost-effective. Large, low-profile buildings like malls and distribution centers with large footprints are best suited for tilt-up construction. All the work is poured on-site, such as the slab and walls, making it a short schedule process.ÔÇØSince that time, the firm has built hundreds of tilt-up projects. ÔÇ£ItÔÇÖs what launched the company, although today itÔÇÖs a small percentage of our work,ÔÇØ says Tinney. ÔÇ£Long-term clients are the key to our success, with 80 percent of the business today coming as repeat business from current customers.ÔÇØAndersenÔÇÖs offices in Oregon, Idaho and Washington service a wide range of clients in the high-tech, retail, education, government, healthcare, hospitality, housing, manufacturing and industrial sectors. The firm employs approximately 500 people in the Northwest region. ÔÇ£Our reputation has been earned one client at a time by focusing on their best interests,ÔÇØ says Tinney. ÔÇ£That principle came from Andy, who just passed away recently. He came into the office every day up to the day before he died at the age of 83. I feel lucky to have known him.ÔÇØThe firm has been run by his son David Andersen, who has been president since 1988. David is an Oregon State University graduate and has been with the company since 1977. His responsibilities include overall business development, client relationship development and overall operations of the company.According to Tinney, the firm is managed by nine values introduced by David Andersen and working together with key employees. ÔÇ£They are simple mantras, like sharing all information with our clients, and principles like working and winning as a team, keeping our focus on advocacy for our clients and project success,ÔÇØ adds Tinney, who joined the company six years ago. ÔÇ£According to David, itÔÇÖs pretty simple the way we operateÔÇöif youÔÇÖre about to do something that the client wouldnÔÇÖt like, then donÔÇÖt do it. We care about the value we deliver to our clients and strive always to be the builder of choice in their eyes.ÔÇØAndersen Construction has also gained in popularity because of its ability to embrace systainability at all stages of construction. The firm is a LEED-certified general contractor recognized for the highest levels of safety performance in the industry, and a large number of staff members are also LEED-accredited professionals (LEED-APs). ÔÇ£WeÔÇÖve been involved with LEED standards since the beginning,ÔÇØ explains Tinney. ÔÇ£Practices such as recycling, energy-efficient buildings and long-term building performance were things we were already doing. The LEED process was just a formalization of the sustainable principles weÔÇÖve always followed.ÔÇØAndersen is also a founding member of the Oregon Natural Step Network, part of the international network of The Natural Step, a nonprofit research, education and advisory organization that uses a science-based framework to help organizations, individuals and communities move toward sustainability.ÔÇ£The lifespan of the building is an important part of the conversation with the client,ÔÇØ says Tinney. ÔÇ£If itÔÇÖs a developer-driven project that will be sold upon completion, the certification considerations may be different than for an owner who intends to ÔÇÿliveÔÇÖ in their building. There are also financial drivers depending on the client or building type. The level of sustainable design will vary with each building and its intended use.ÔÇØTinney also notes that in Oregon, all state-funded projects have to achieve LEED ratings, so there is some legislation driving green building practices. ÔÇ£Sustainability is achieved through many factors, such as the fuels you run on your equipment at a job site or your proximity to public transportation systems,ÔÇØ he adds.At┬á Oregon State University, Andersen Construction is building the schoolÔÇÖs new energy plant that will achieve Platinum LEED status, the highest rating available. ÔÇ£ItÔÇÖs a cogeneration plant that uses various fuel sources to power the plant itself. For example, the plant reuses and reclaims waste heat to help run a secondary turbine,ÔÇØ says Tinney. ÔÇ£ThereÔÇÖs a gas-fired turbine [jet engine] that operates very efficiently and works in conjunction with a steam-powered turbine to generate electricity.ÔÇØThe plantÔÇÖs core and shell is designed to last well over 100 years, with solid concrete tilt-up construction providing very low maintenance costs. ÔÇ£The plant also contains office space for the facilities team, so the dense walls help balance the temperature swings and abate the noise from the dual turbine engines that would otherwise affect the rest of the campus,ÔÇØ says Tinney. ÔÇ£The plantÔÇÖs equipment is designed to exceed code for longer life and have lower maintenance costs.ÔÇØThe firmÔÇÖs efforts have brought accolades, including a recognition by Engineering News Record as a Top Green Contractor. According to published reports, Andersen Construction has produced annual revenues ranging from $175 million to $385 million during each of the last five years. In addition, Northwest Construction magazine recognized the firm in its Best of ÔÇÿ08 awards program for their work on the Providence Tanasbourne Medical Center in Hillsboro, Oregon. Andersen has also been recognized as a Most Admired Company and for its excellent safety record.ÔÇ£All the people who work here understand the importance of efficiency and building quality into our buildings so they perform well and last longer,ÔÇØ says Tinney. ÔÇ£There are also evolving technologies such as wind and solar, and practices like rain harvesting for use as graywater in buildings and using green [eco] roofs to improve the performance of a building. ItÔÇÖs our job to keep up with the new technology and ways to build sustainability into the project.ÔÇØ┬á