A Look Back – Leon Williams Contractors Celebrates a Year of Milestones in 2018
Leon Williams Contractors celebrates a year of milestones in 2018
It’s been a busy year for Leon Williams Contractors, and we’re proud to look back at our biggest projects of 2018.
Foothills Church
In March, we completed construction of the new 33,000 square foot Foothills Church (FC) building in Maryville. By attendance, FC is the largest church in Blount County. The new space serves as an auditorium and creative space for the congregation’s Sunday services.
Constructing a church with such a large capacity and with advanced technology provided several challenges. LWC had to work with Foothill’s Church’s audio/video consultant to ensure that the piping and conduit placement for the state-of-art audiovisual system was considered during every step of the building process. As with any addition, the flow of both vehicular and pedestrian traffic connecting the new spaces to the existing was a big concern to insure the two buildings are used efficiently.
LWC has been a construction partner with Foothills Church since 2011 when the church purchased a building formerly known as Thunderworld, helping FC transform the facility into a place of worship.
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
In August, we completed two projects at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, including three new dining options at the school’s West Campus Housing building and a complete renovation of Crossroads Dining Hall.
In August, we completed the renovation of the 13,000-square-foot UTC Crossroads Dining Hall. That project included replacing all the furniture, food stations and fixtures in the facility and adding a Mongolian grill concept and sushi machine.
We also built out facilities for three new dining options – Einstein Bros.® Bagels, Dippers southern fried and grilled chicken, and a Provisions on Demand (P.O.D.) quick-serve store – inside UTC’s new West Campus Housing building.
The West Campus Housing project and the Crossroads Dining Hall renovation were the 13th and 14th projects we’ve completed at UTC.
Allevia Technology
In September, we began renovating a former bank branch building in a commercial district near downtown Maryville for Allevia Technology, a local computer repair and business IT company. When it’s completed, the 2,700-square-foot modern, open-design office space will provide a fluid work environment for Allevia’s 10-person staff.
While we’re proud of our accomplished in 2018, we’re looking ahead to an exciting 2019. Contact Leon Williamsto learn how we build or renovate facilities for your church, business, or educational institution.
Leon Williams Contractors Begins Renovation of Maryville Lab for High-Tech Clinical Trials
Maryville, Tennessee-based commercial design-build firm will update Molecular Pathology Laboratory Network’s East Tennessee facility to accommodate high-level biotechnology clinical trial
MARYVILLE, Tenn. – Nov. 19, 2018 – Leon Williams Contractors (LWC), a Maryville-based commercial design-build firm, is renovating the Blount County headquarters of regional medical testing provider Molecular Pathology Laboratory Network (MPLN) to accommodate a six-month biotechnology clinical trial.
The project will convert a one-room lab at MPLN’s 27,000-square-foot downtown Maryville facility into two state-of-the-art laboratories connected by a corridor. The two labs will require a complex split-air-pressure system with positive air pressure in one room and negative air pressure in the other in order to prevent contamination between the two rooms.
“This is a highly technical project that requires attention to detail and precision,” said Roger A. Hubbard, founder, president and CEO of MPLN. “Any contamination from one room to the other could completely invalidate these important scientific trials, so there’s almost no room for error. That’s why we’re working with Leon Williams Contractors – they’re thorough and reliable, so we’re confident they can meet and even exceed the high standards this project demands.”
MPLN provides an expanding menu of molecular diagnostics, specialty anatomic pathology, flow cytometry, fluorescence in situ hybridization, and cytogenetic testing for pathology groups, hospitals, medical laboratories, and physician groups nationwide.
Renovation will last six to eight weeks. The initial clinical trial will start in January and last for at least six months. When the trial is complete, MPLN will be able to adapt the new laboratory facilities for new trials and testing.
“This is a unique challenge for us,” said LWC president Jimmy Hawkins. “MPLN is already an advanced scientific facility, and this project will make it truly cutting-edge. Dr. Hubbard and his team have provided us with a clear vision of what they need, and that allowed us to create a detailed plan that we’ll use to bring their vision to life. We are excited to not only help MPLN refine their practice, but to play a small role in technology that could change the future of medical practices.”
About Leon Williams Contractors
An experienced commercial design-build firm, Leon Williams Contractors simplifies the building process by effectively managing costs, adhering to deadlines and reducing complications to provide a seamless building experience. As a value-engineering expert, Leon Williams Contractors offers a complete range of services including pre-construction consultation, site assessment, design-build expertise and construction management in the greater Knoxville, Tenn. area.
For more information, visit www.lwcontractorstn.com or call 865-982-1734.
Five initial steps in new construction or remodeling projects
Leon Williams Contractors will be there every step of the way
Congratulations, you’ve made the decision to remodel your facility or build a new home for your business. What’s next?
In previous blog posts, we touched upon reasons why a Knoxville or East Tennessee business should remodel, expand, or construct a new base of operations. Now that you made your decision, it’s time to start planning.
Here are five of the most important stages of the planning phase before remodeling or new construction can begin:
- Scope/financing:We work with you to develop a clear and concise scope of work document so you can apply for financing. You need to have solid financing in place before work begins. This is for your protection.
- Guidance:We will work with you and our external design team to finalize any renderings and specific building design specifications. We can make tweaks or adjustments if site constraints or issues influence design.
- Preconstruction consultation: Our experts and those who design our work will meet with you early in the process for preconstruction analysis. We can locate and evaluate properties and negotiate with owners. We’ll identify any potential issues with the property that may affect the project’s budget and timeline.
- Value engineering:We want to maximize our clients’ budgets, not just cut costs. We will look at every part of the project to see whether they make economic sense, ranging from site preparation to roof materials and utility needs.
- Construction:Once the construction phase begins, we will continue our value engineering and review progress and provide updates regularly on your project. We can also account for weather delays and stay on top of the budget and materials.
You still have a ways to go before you and your employees can get settled into your new business space, but the project will be done before you know it.
Contact Leon Williamsfor more information on renovating existing businesses or building a new one from scratch.
Five things to consider for a church expansion or new construction
Leon Williams Contractors can help you answer your calling
Leon Williams Contractors has been building state-of-the-art houses of worship for more than two decades.
Knoxville church construction and expansionis one of our specialties, and we can help church leaders navigate the many aspects of building a new church. One question we can help answer: Should a church renovate or build a brand new worship facility?
There are many considerations and variables to church construction. What’s the size of your congregation? Do you want to add a large fellowship hall or merely expand your sanctuary or auditorium? Here are some basic considerations to get you started.
- Space constraints.What are the limitations of your current space? Sometimes there is wasted or underutilized space that could be utilized for your expansion purposes.
- What’s your congregation’s calling?If you have ambitious plans to expand your ministry, such as offering daycare or other children’s services, then a new building might be the best option.
- How old is your current worship space?If your HVAC system is undersized or outdated, that could also be a sign it’s time to move the flock, because HVAC upgrades can be disruptive and expensive. If your church was built prior to the 1970s, then you may also encounter asbestos or other toxic materials that need to be encapsulated or removed. That’s another substantial cost.
- Affordability.Take a hard look at your church finances. Can the church afford a new building, or will a few cosmetic and internal design changes meet your needs for now? You don’t want to saddle your congregation with a large construction loan payoff or mortgage if you aren’t absolutely certain it’s within budget.
- Desired design.Your preferred design and layout could influence how much space you need. If it can be accommodated within your existing building, or with a reasonable expansion, that might be the best route to follow.
We can make any number of recommendations, but ultimately, it’s up to church leaders and members to make the tough choice of whether to rebuild, remodel or expand a church. Be prayerful and thoughtful and you’ll make the right choice.
Contact Leon Williams Contractorsfor more information on how to answer your calling.
Leon Williams Contractors Begins East Broadway Renovation Project for Allevia Technology
Maryville, Tennessee-based commercial design-build firm to transform former bank branch building in Maryville into modern office space for business technology company
MARYVILLE, Tenn. – Oct. 2, 2018 – Leon Williams Contractors, a Maryville-based commercial design-build firm, is renovating a former bank branch building in a commercial district near downtown Maryville for Allevia Technology, a local computer repair and business IT company.
The renovation project will result in a 2,700-square-foot modern, open-design office space with a fluid work environment for Allevia’s 10-person staff. The design will incorporate the covered drive-thru into the building as a combined tech room and office.
“I think this is going to work out really well,” said Allevia Technology owner Stefan Wilson. “We’ll have a clean, contemporary space we can call our own that will also give us room to grow. Leon Williams understands exactly what we’re looking for, and they’ve presented us with a detailed plan we have the utmost confidence in. Plus, we’re contributing to the revitalization of central Maryville, and the money we’re investing in this project is going to stay in Blount County.”
The building is located at 1819 E. Broadway, near downtown Maryville and convenient to Interstate I-140, US 129 and US 321. It is part of a business corridor that is currently undergoing a commercial revival.
“This is an unusual project, with unique challenges and opportunities,” said Jimmy Hawkins, president of Leon Williams Contractors. “This is the first time we’ve converted a bank drive-thru into an office. But we’ve got a chance to transform an old, outdated commercial space into something new and modern that’s going to benefit not just Allevia and Stefan but the community as a whole.”
The Allevia Technology renovation is expected to be complete in winter 2018.
About Leon Williams Contractors
An experienced commercial design-build firm, Leon Williams Contractors simplifies the building process by effectively managing costs, adhering to deadlines and reducing complications to provide a seamless building experience. As a value-engineering expert, Leon Williams Contractors offers a complete range of services including pre-construction consultation, site assessment, design-build expertise and construction management in the greater Knoxville, Tenn. area.
For more information, visit www.lwcontractorstn.com or call 865-982-1734.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Heather Ripley
Ripley PR
865-977-1973
hripley@ripleypr.com
Should you renovate your Knoxville business or construct a new building?
Seven ways new construction can benefit your business
In an earlier blog we examined some of the benefits and challenges of renovatinga new office building or retail location in the Knoxville area.
While there are advantages to renovating an existing structure to accommodate company growth, there are a lot of variables to take into consideration. These include disruption to your business, challenges bringing old buildings up to current code, and the future economic vitality of your current neighborhood or part of town. Our design-build construction servicesand preconstruction planning will help guide you through these challenges from the get-go if you decide to go this route.
There are clear advantages to new construction, however, and we can put our design-build construction expertise to work for you on this front, too.
Benefits of starting from scratch and building a new office, clinic, restaurant or retail space include:
- Relocation:An opportunity to move your business to a more robust part of town.
- Utility savings:Increased energy efficiency and utility savings can be realized with modern building materials and new windows.
- Functionality:If you aren’t happy with your current facility’s layout, flow or design, starting fresh offers you the chance to create a space that’s right for your business.
- Tech integration:Modern wiring and integrated technological systems such as security and digital cabling or conduits are easier to install in new construction.
- Better parking:Revamping your parking lot to better accommodate employees and customers.
- New infrastructure:Less maintenance and extended warranties on new building features such as HVAC systems.
- Less risk:Fewer concerns about the discovery or release of hazardous materials such as asbestos that may be present and disturbed by renovation of an existing structure.
Ultimately, you make the decisions and call the shots. Our construction professionals and design partners can help you with a cost-benefit analysis to help determine whether renovation or new construction is right for you. Once you decide, our design-build construction experts will be with you every step of the way to help grow and expand your business from the top down or bottom up.
Contact Leon Williamstoday to get started on this exciting new phase of your East Tennessee business.
Leon Williams Contractors Completes 2018 UT-Chattanooga Construction and Renovation Projects
Maryville, Tennessee-based commercial design-build firm added new spaces to UTC’s West Campus Housing building and renovated Crossroads Dining Hall in 2018
MARYVILLE, Tenn. – Aug. 24, 2018 – Leon Williams Contractors, a Maryville-based commercial design-build firm, has completed two major projects at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga that will have positive impact on students and faculty starting in the fall 2018 semester.
The company built three new dining options – Einstein Bros.® Bagels, Dippers southern fried and grilled chicken and a Provisions on Demand (P.O.D.) quick-serve store – as part of the new flagship West Campus Housing building and completed a full renovation of Crossroads Dining Hall, UTC’s main student dining facility.
“These two locations are central to the UTC campus, so it’s essential that students and faculty have positive experiences there,” said Tyler Forrest, associate vice chancellor for budget and finance at the university. “We also want these facilities to present the university’s commitment to quality and excellence, which is something we share with Leon Williams Contractors.”
The three new West Campus Housing dining concepts account for 6,500 square feet of the 231,000-square-foot West Campus Housing building. Renovation of the 13,000-square-foot Crossroads Dining Hall included replacing all the furniture, food stations and fixtures, adding a Mongolian grill concept and sushi machine, and installing a new state of the art kitchen exhaust system to reduce cooking smoke and smells outside the building.
“These are two very different projects, but what they have in common is that they’re presenting a range of new opportunities for students at UTC,” said Jimmy Hawkins, president of Leon Williams Contractors. “West Campus Housing was essentially a project within a project – we had to work closely with the building contractor to coordinate our work inside their construction site. Crossroads Dining Hall was similar in that there were two other extensive construction projects occurring on the floors above the space at the same time.”
The West Campus Housing project and the Crossroads Dining Hall renovation were the 13th and 14th projects completed by Leon Williams Contractors at UTC. The projects took place between February and early August. UTC’s fall semester started Aug. 20.
About Leon Williams Contractors
An experienced commercial design-build firm, Leon Williams Contractors simplifies the building process by effectively managing costs, adhering to deadlines and reducing complications to provide a seamless building experience. As a value-engineering expert, Leon Williams Contractors offers a complete range of services including pre-construction consultation, site assessment, design-build expertise and construction management in the greater Knoxville, Tenn. area.
For more information, visit www.lwcontractorstn.com or call 865-982-1734.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Heather Ripley
Ripley PR
865-977-1973
hripley@ripleypr.com
5 ways Leon Williams Contractors can make your medical clinic patient-centered
Our design-build process leads to health facilities that soothe and cure
Even in relatively benign settings, health care consumers can be frightened and homesick. Leon Williams Contractors can make sure your clinic renovation or constructionis patient-centered and puts them at ease. Design, colors and flow plans are all important aspects of healthcare facility design.
Here are some things to keep in mind as we lead your design-build process for Knoxville-area medical facilities.
- Facetime is key.All health care facilities should be designed in such a way that doctors, patients, advocates and family members can interact in a comfortable setting. This can ease anxiety and empower patients to participate in their health care outcomes.
- Streamline spaces.We can help ensure your medical facility — ranging from eye clinics to dental clinics and primary-care offices — has ample storage to reduce clutter. Square footage is at a premium, so it’s important to accommodate space for medical devices and equipment. Streamlining your space puts patients even more at ease. Medical equipment should have a home to avoid being a distraction or cluttering up free space.
- Make it personal.Generic, clinical and antiseptic medical spaces can increase stress. Allow patients and family members to personalize their space with ample room for books, clothes, personal effects and ports for tablets and smartphones. Consider speakers so patients can stream their favorite music while waiting for or undergoing a procedure.
- Bring family together.Make sure waiting rooms have ample space for families, and consider offering a portioned space for private discussion. Make a space for water coffee and snacks.
- Colors count.Choose hues with care. You don’t want a patient facing a stark or overly bright wall. Facilities that cater to children should offer more varied and brighter colors. Various shades of blue can be calming. Artwork can also add great accents, but choose accordingly for the context.
If you are a healthcare provider, your primary concern should be providing your patients the highest level of care. Our health facility design-build process can help guide you to the perfect ambiance and environment for doing so. Contact usfor more information.
Business owners: Should you remodel or rebuild?
Six considerations when determining the best course of action for your growing business
So your office or retail space is getting a little old, or maybe you’ve added more employees and need more space. At any rate, a need to expand your office or shop is generally a good thing. But deciding whether to renovate or build a new space from scratch can be a tough call.
Leon Williams Contractors can do the job regardless of your decision and can even help you decide whether to remodel or erect a brand new structure. In this and upcoming blog posts, we’ll share our East Tennessee design-build expertisein weighing the pros and cons of each option.
Here are six considerations if you are leaning toward a renovation of your office or retail space:
- It can be cheaper in the short-term to remodel or expand an existing structure. What you are sacrificing, however, is the ultimate longevity of your building. A new building will last much longer.
- Some bad surprises can accompany a remodeling project. If you find asbestos or other hazardous materials during remodeling, it could drastically increase the cost.
- Renovations can generally be accomplished in less time than building a completely new structure.
- Does your existing building hold historical or architectural significance that can be retained with renovation or remodeling? If it does, it may be worth more than you know, and you could be abandoning an asset if you decide to construct a new building.
- Economic factors.What is the economic pulse of your current location? Is it on the upswing or stagnating? If you are in a booming part of town, it might benefit you to stay put and remodel your existing building. The contrary may be the case if your neighborhood is in decline.
- What is the scope of your plan? Can remodeling or renovations be done without drastic disruptions to your office functions?
Deciding between a renovation and a new building is a good problem to have. It means your business is growing. There are many variables to consider. Our design-build experts can help you decide the right course, and we’ll be with you every step of the way regardless of your decision. Contact us today about our Knoxville-area renovation services.
