The Douglas Company

Growth┬áformula┬áThe Douglas Company believes in building strong relationships with its customers and its suppliers. Ben Sansom reports on a period of exceptional growth, and then focuses on projects coming to completion in Florida. Headquartered in Holland, near Toledo, Ohio, The Douglas Company has spent 33 years since its inception building a reputation and a thriving business in the construction industry.  Over the past five years alone, it has completed a range of major projects spread across the states of Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Pennsylvania and Florida.The period 2003 to 2008 was one of rapid growth, with sales rising from $14.5 million at the start of this period to around $135 million last year. One of the most influential factors in this phenomenal story, the company says, is that it is very selective in identifying the clients it wishes to pursue. It seeks out what it calls ÔÇÿgood peopleÔÇÖÔÇöcompanies with a business culture similar to its own, and more importantly, ones that reward their people for high performance. Relationships are a keystone to The Douglas Company culture. The company likes to build personal and close relationships with both its clients and suppliers. From the initial project concept, through all stages of the design and construction, the company collaborates with them all to match the original vision and aim of the project with the necessary expertise and knowledge, and then bring the project to satisfactory completion.One of the tools the company has developed over the years to control costs and eliminate unwelcome surprises is the Douglas Enhanced Estimating and Pre-construction process, or DEEP for short. Regardless of whether the project is on a design/build, a design/assist or simply a contractor basis, this proven three-tier estimating process ensures that the clients receive the best materials and products for the price they can afford. By sticking to budgets and schedules, an increasing amount of the companyÔÇÖs work is becoming repeat business. In todayÔÇÖs difficult market place, the company specializes in construction projects for the commercial, multi-family, retail and senior living sectors, often operating on a design/build basis. The company headquarters is in Holland, Ohio, but it has also been active in Florida for more than 27 years, where three major new projects reach completion this year. The first, The Villas at Lake Eve, is a $39 million construction project for Sky Hotels & Resorts for which The Douglas Company acted as main contractor. This is a 14-story development of 176 luxury suites on the lakeside, built around a huge outdoor heated swimming pool. It offers one, two and three bedroom suites, each with superb views over the lake. The second project to come to fruition this year is an $8.3 million contract for the construction of Sunflower Springs, an assisted living community in Citrus County, Florida, which is scheduled for completion in May. The community has been constructed to provide seven styles of spacious one or two bedroom apartments that promote an active independent lifestyle.┬áBut each apartment has been fitted out with an emergency response system, and this is supported by the assurance of assistance from fully trained onsite professionals 24 hours a day. The community facilities include a library and media lounge with Wi-Fi, a fireplace lounge and menÔÇÖs club lounge, a private dining room, wellness center and caf├®/ice cream parlor.Finally, The Douglas Company is still working on a $12.3 million contract for the construction of Bentley Commons, a new community of 108 luxury rental senior apartments located at Zephyrhills in Florida, for which the completion date is August this year. Constructed in a three-story H-shaped block, the development consists of one and two bedroom apartments and studios, each with a fitted kitchen and balcony and an emergency response system. The community facilities also include a lounge and pub, restaurant and private dining room, exercise gym and activity rooms, a theatre, plus a range of services and shops. The economic downturn has certainly been felt at The Douglas Company, but its effects have been mitigated slightly by the diversity of projects the company handles, and by the long-term need for housing and purpose-built facilities for the senior marketplace.  ÔÇô Editorial research by Tim Conlon┬á