Versatility topped Ron Cleveland’s list of priorities when he and his wife decided to construct a new building in Beaumont, Texas, to accommodate the two businesses they jointly own.
Cleveland also wanted to create a structure that would serve as an effective marketing tool for his construction firm.
An 11,526-sf custom metal office building met both goals and, since opening its doors in 2010, has served as the headquarters of both Ron Cleveland Construction Co. and the local Keller Williams Realty franchise.
“I wanted to be able to say, ‘Here’s what you can do with a metal building’ to clients and potential clients,” says Cleveland, a Star builder since 1979. “So many people have a preconceived notion of a metal building as just a rectangular box with tin walls. That is definitely not the case.”
Now it’s not unusual for prospects to visit Cleveland’s space without knowing it’s a metal building.
“I’ve had clients come here to meet with me about constructing a new office building who were not even aware this was a metal building,” he says.
Cleveland also has had people ask him how it was possible to build a wooden porch without supporting columns.
“I tell them it’s not wood; it’s structural steel surrounded by wood. Sometimes they don’t believe it,” he says.
The structure is designed to withstand a 130 mph wind load, and its exterior walls are open to metal stud framing and brick veneer. The lack of interior load-bearing walls provides ultimate flexibility for current and future tenants.
“If I sold this building, it could easily be redesigned to accommodate a doctor’s office or any other kind of business,” Cleveland says. “Because of the large clear-span interior, there is a lot of flexibility to rearrange the space as you choose.”
That flexibility also facilitates synergies between the two businesses that currently occupy it.
“This has become a one-stop shop for commercial real estate,” he says. “We sell land, do design and build from this one office.”
The project’s three main sections form a U-shaped building. An eight-foot, three-sided overhang at the entrance features cedar siding at the soffits that matches the window trim and exterior column wraps. Overhangs at the gabled ends of the entrance include two hip frames, each of which attaches below the roofline to create a Dutch-type hip gable. Above the hip frames, the building extends beyond the roofline to create a mission-style aesthetic.
Two roof planes feature custom-designed valley beams and purlins that attach to the beams with open areas below. The roof planes accommodate false dormers with sheeting and trim that match the roof panels.
Beyond providing customers of both businesses with a positive first impression, the new building also has directly contributed to Cleveland’s bottom line.
“I’ve sold two buildings because of this building,” Cleveland says. “It’s helped my business very nicely.”
Building Team:
Owner: Ron Cleveland
Star Builder: Ron Cleveland Construction Co. LLC
Architect: Architectural Alliance, Inc.
General Contractor: Ron Cleveland Construction Co. LLC
Erector: Ron Cleveland Construction Co. LLC
Roof Panels: Star Building Systems
Insulation: Guardian Building Products
Related Stories
| Nov 25, 2014
Emerging design and operation strategies for the ambulatory team in transition
As healthcare systems shift their care models to be more responsive to patient-centered care, ambulatory care teams need to be positioned to operate efficiently in their everyday work environments, write CannonDesign Health Practice leaders Tonia Burnette and Mike Pukszta.
| Nov 24, 2014
Midsize construction firms see a brighter business horizon
Uncertainty about government spending clouds an otherwise positive economic outlook among 59 middle market construction firms polled recently by GE Capital.
| Nov 24, 2014
Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill-designed crystalline tower breaks ground in southwestern China
Fitted with an LED façade, the 468-meter Greenland Tower Chengdu will act as a light sculpture for the city of Chengdu.
| Nov 21, 2014
Rental apartment construction soars to 27-year high: WSJ report
The multifamily sector is now outpacing the peak construction rate in the previous housing cycle, in 2006, according to the WSJ.
| Nov 21, 2014
Nonresidential Construction Index rises in fourth quarter
There are a number of reasons for optimism among respondents of FMI's quarterly Nonresidential Construction Index survey, including healthier backlogs and low inflation.
| Nov 21, 2014
NCARB: Number of architects in U.S. grows 1.6% in 2014, surpasses 107,500
The architecture profession continues to grow along with a gradually recovering economy, based on the results of the 2014 Survey of Architectural Registration Boards, conducted by the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards.
| Nov 20, 2014
Lean Led Design: How Building Teams can cut costs, reduce waste in healthcare construction projects
Healthcare organizations are under extreme pressure to reduce costs, writes CBRE Healthcare's Lora Schwartz. Tools like Lean Led Design are helping them cope.
| Nov 19, 2014
The evolution of airport design and construction [infographic]
Safety, consumer demand, and the new economics of flight are three of the major factors shaping how airlines and airport officials are approaching the need for upgrades and renovations, writes Skanska USA's MacAdam Glinn.
| Nov 19, 2014
Construction unemployment hits eight-year low, some states struggle to find qualified labor
The construction industry, whose workforce was decimated during the last recession, is slowly getting back on its feet. However, in certain markets—especially those where oil drilling and production have been prospering—construction workers can still be scarce.
Sponsored | | Nov 19, 2014
3 technology trends on the horizon
As technology continues to evolve exponentially, construction firms have ongoing opportunities to enhance the quality, speed, and efficiency of building projects and processes. SPONSORED CONTENT
