Renovation can Give Your Commercial Facility a New Lease on Life

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After a commercial facility has seen decades of service and is showing its age, it’s natural for the owners to consider whether the best path forward might be to construct a new building.

This is a decision that shouldn’t be made lightly. It can be more cost-effective to update and renovate the existing space rather than going through the expense of locating and purchasing new property and then constructing a new building. The experts at Leon Williams Contractors, a Maryville construction firm, have decades of experience working with business owners to find the most efficient and affordable solutions for their facility needs.

Take Stock

The choice to renovate or build a new facility starts by evaluating the current property and the needs of the business. Do you need expanded space or to just refresh the facility or tweak the layout for more efficiency?

Whatever the condition of the facility and the property it currently occupies, Leon Williams Contractors can perform a comprehensive site assessment to provide the information needed to prevent unexpected expenses during a building project.

For example, if the space doesn’t meet current building codes, necessary improvements will have to be factored into the plans. It’s more economical to address those concerns up front than in the middle of a construction project.

Another question is what is the state of the building’s mechanical systems? They might be in good enough shape to continue serving the space for years longer, but an investment in new systems can pay for itself in reduced long-term operating costs. The Leon Williams team will talk facility owners through all of their options, identifying possible cost savings and providing the insight to avoid surprises during the building process.

We Can Help

Since 1964, Leon Williams Contractors has been designing and building commercial facilities throughout East Tennessee. Ready to learn how we can help? Visit www.lwcontractorstn.com or call (865) 982-1734.

Finding the Right Site for Your 2021 Construction Needs

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Looking for a site for a new commercial facility can be a chore. It’s important to find the right match to meet your business needs and ensure your success. As the saying goes, it’s all about “Location, location, location.” It’s important for any business. Is there enough traffic to justify building a retail location? Can the property be easily accessed or will inconvenient roadway access drive away customers?

Site Assessment

Leon Williams Contractors, your Maryville construction expert, can help you find the perfect site for your facility. Our preplanning and site assessment services are thorough. We’ll ensure there are no unexpected, expensive surprises at a proposed location such as environmental issues requiring remediation, geotechnical issues that would need overly-extensive sitework to overcome and insufficient utilities or infrastructure.

If you think that finding the right site for your commercial facility will take care of any potential issues, that’s not quite the full story. Businesses also have to consider what happens to the site once construction begins and design plans are being implemented. A construction company needs expertise and the ability to work well with designer and architects to execute their vision exactly. Otherwise, problems can creep in.

We Can Help

That is where we can help. The team at Leon Williams Contractors has decades of design-build construction experience working closely with our clients and their design firms on commercial construction projects. We take pride in properly executing all aspects of a project, ensuring that both commercial facilities and sites are built out in the best way possible.

At Leon Williams Contactors, we’re ready to assist our East Tennessee clients assess the right site for their building projects. If you are ready to talk about your construction plans for 2021, contact us today.

Shopping Malls are Changing

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Developers need construction flexibility

The retail apocalypse isn’t nigh. It’s happening now and shows no sign of stopping, forcing mall operators to rethink the way they do business.

Father and daughter spending a day in shopping mall

With more than 75,000 more stores expected to close throughout the United States by 2026, traditionally retail-centered commercial developments like malls are shifting focus to services and experiences, according to GlobeSt.com:

Mixed-use projects are stepping up to fill the void with underperforming malls. Live-work-play activities are animating retail centers, moving away from the islands of traditional retail.

These commercial pressures are encouraging developers and property managers to make creative choices, creating new malls experiences through diverse dining options, services and experiences. This can range from bowling alleys to grocery stores, gyms and dry cleaning — even incorporating nearby residential options.

Need for Experienced Contractors

As this new commercial playbook is being developed, developers and property managers will benefit from partnering with construction firms, like Leon Williams Contractors, that have a wide variety of commercial experience.

From transforming a former arcade and entertainment center, previously known as Thunderworld, into the elegant Foothills Church (FC) facility in Blount County, Tennessee, to building out new dining facilities at the University of Tennessee’s Knoxville and Chattanooga campuses, Leon Williams Contractors has decades of experience revamping spaces to fit new commercial needs. We’re also thoroughly experienced in building out new commercial spaces, including, most recently, three East Tennessee Which Wich® franchise locations.

Project Management for Any Need

Construction experience is just part of the equation. To be competitive, commercial construction projects must be completed on time and within budget, requiring consistent oversight of the construction management process.

To benefit our commercial clients, Leon Williams Contractors offers an extensive toolkit of services to trim costs while ensuring quality. This includes pre-construction consultation and design-build and value engineering expertise. Contact us to learn more.