CSA Q&A: Spotlight on Pine Ridge Construction Management
Chain Store Age spoke with Giancarlo Lanzano, VP of business development at Pine Ridge Construction Management, about how the firm serves its clients and uses technology to their benefit, along with COVID-19 safety concerns.
Tell us about Pine Ridge Construction Management.
Pine Ridge Construction Management is a national provider of construction management, general contracting and design-build services. The company is experienced in retail, sports arenas, refrigeration, distribution centers, food & beverage, affordable housing, education and hospitality.
We have recruited top talent from across the country to better serve our clients no matter what or where they choose to build. Our team is an eclectic mix of wise heads and young shoulders that combines experience, tenacity and professionalism, making us ready to tackle even the most challenging of projects.
How does the company stand out from its competitors?
Our national team members have a wide range of experience across many construction disciplines and backgrounds, which creates a strong internal network that our clients can rely on to support their projects and needs.
We deliver projects on time and on budget — and we also handle all the stress that comes with construction. This allows our clients focus their energy on what matters most to them and their business.
What are some of the advantages that Pine Ridge brings to retailers?
We've spent many years working on both sides of retail and general contracting, and we understand what our tradesmen need to get the job done. Our experience gives us a full project perspective and an understanding of what a retailer needs along with a vast network to utilize.
At Pine Ridge, a client is not just a client. It’s a partner, and their project is our project. Retailers and all our clients can expect a well thought out proposal each and every time — the first time. We also keep our overhead low, enabling us to keep our pricing competitive.
Pine Ridge executed several projects at the new American Dream mega retail and entertainment center in New Jersey. What were the projects?
Pine Ridge was the only general contractor on one of the largest entertainment projects in the country — Big Snow, the indoor ski facility at American Dream — and we delivered it on time for its grand opening.
Because of the success of the project, we were asked to build more of American Dream’s entertainment components, including Black Light Mini Golf, Mirror Maze and more to come. This eventually led to inline retail spaces, ranging from Taco Bell and its guest service lounges to Sarah Jessica Parker and Scotch & Soda.
We continue our work at American Dream and look forward to its future and success. Anyone who has visited the center can testify to its vast, impressive scale as well as the uniqueness of the project.
Does Pine Ridge have any new projects in the pipeline or opening soon that it can tell us about?
We are building a new concept Macy’s store in Dallas [the store recently opened].
We’ve also been working closely with multiple NBA teams and their arenas. This year has allowed us to venture further into new sectors. We have a large affordable housing project and distribution centers under construction plus several new projects in the works. We’re looking forward to unveiling more in 2021.
How has technology impacted construction management in general and Pine Ridge specifically?
Technology advancements has benefitted us in so many ways, including allowing us to work seamlessly with each other and with our clients nationwide. Internally, our construction management software allows us to operate efficiently and deliver the best for clients. This efficiency has created real-time communication, which means out clients can see their projects progressing at all times.
How is Pine Ridge addressing COVID-19?
Safety is our top priority and taken very seriously. Our obligation is to maintain a safe project site for our employees, our subcontractors and members of the general public. We continually monitor our jobs to make certain that our workers and subcontractors do not create safety hazards for others throughout the site.
This industry and this world are ever-evolving and we are vigilant about maintaining a safe and secure environment for all involved. We’ve developed a safety program that keeps our team apprised and follows CDC guidelines in our offices and on site. At Pine Ridge, safety is a lifestyle and a social responsibility.
Our team also continues to work installing custom plexiglass dividers for both essential and non-essential businesses. For example, we completed a design build of the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York to kick off the Nets season. We provided seamless custom dividers in 94 suites, the control room, announcers’ desk, interview areas, concessions stands, ticket booths, security and the in-house testing labs.
In another major accomplishment, Pine Ridge was also able to help many of our clients who were downsized amid the pandemic to find new jobs in the industry. These were the same people who helped us build our company and continue to be partners in the industry.
What qualities should a retailer look for when hiring a construction management company?
Transparency, communication and experience. Because we have been on the client side of the industry, we understand how essential these three components are to delivering projects on time and on budget.
We believe that it is important to face the daily challenges in this industry head-on, with clarity of vision, productive purpose and our clients’ best interest always in mind. Our clear proposals, daily updates, and seasoned decision makers put our clients and projects at ease.