Adjustable Forms Inc.: Leader in Structural Frames

Since its start in 1930, Adjustable Forms Inc. says it has grown to become one of the nation’s “premier concrete contractors.” Based in Lombard, Ill., the firm provides concrete frame contracting for commercial construction projects across the nation, with the Chicago area being a primary focus.

Project Manager Eric Lindquist says the company’s roots go back to Adjustable Joist Co., a concrete construction firm formed by partners R.F. Tickle and Harold Genester in Minneapolis in 1930. During the Depression, the firm sought to expand outside its home state.

Adjustable Joist then formed a sister company, Adjustable Forms Inc., in Chicago. In 1947, Lindquist’s grandfather, Elmer H. Lindquist, joined the firm as a civil engineer who oversaw sales and engineering.

During the 1950s, the company grew to provide its services to clients in 16 states, for such projects as the John Hancock Center. The company also participated in the construction of the 860 Lake Shore Drive Apartments in Chicago, which “solidified Adjustable Forms’ prominence in the Chicago high-rise market,” it says.

Elmer Lindquist took the role of the company’s president in the 1950s. Throughout the earlier years, Adjustable Forms’ projects have included the Carl Sandburg Village multifamily project in Chicago, a CIA building in Virginia, shopping centers in Michigan and apartments in New York.

In 1984, Eric Lindquist’s father, President Jim Lindquist, purchased the company from the Tickle family. Today, Adjustable Forms also operates offices in Minneapolis, Indianapolis and Las Vegas, and specializes in large-scale reinforced concrete structures. “As a full-service concrete subcontractor, we are able to provide all components of concrete construction, including forming, placing and finishing,” it says.

The company notes that it can construct mild-steel and post-tensioned structural frames, and provide and install all concrete reinforcement. “Our team consistently delivers concrete frames in excess of 50 levels, having constructed structures over 1,000 feet,” it says.

In addition, Adjustable Forms says it can provide preconstruction services designed to give flexibility to its clients. “Our design/assist services have helped numerous projects realize a more cost-effective structural frame at an efficient schedule,” it states.

A Flourishing Business
Eric Lindquist joined his family’s company this year, after gaining experience in engineering and construction. “I’ve always had an interest in construction,” he says. “Just growing up [around it] and being exposed to it made me very interested.”

He notes that the company’s longevity is due to the expertise of its people. “We’ve developed a strong team,” he says, naming Jim Lindquist, Vice President Michael Kennedy and Operations Manager Scott Kennedy as key. “Over the years, we’ve really developed strong leadership in the field. [We’ve also] maintained a lot of loyalty from our tradesmen.”

In addition, “We’re fortunate enough to have the largest backlog in our history,” he says, noting that the majority of the company’s work is for such general contractors as Bovis Lend Lease, which operates in more than 30 countries; Kenny Construction Co. in Northbrook, Ill.; and Evans Construction Services, based in Chicago.

“We’ve developed great relationships with them.”

Bringing Its Experience
Adjustable Forms is now at work for Bovis on One Museum Park West, a 54-story, 620-foot tower in Chicago that will cover 900,000 square feet. “It’s unique in that it’s [a] top-down construction job, where simultaneously, we’ll be taking the tower up as we excavate and place the basement levels,” Lindquist says.

By using top-down construction, Adjustable Forms can expedite the concrete frame more quickly and reduce the schedule. Instead of the superstructure being dependent on the foundation and substructure being completed, Adjustable Forms can take the tower up at the same time as the subsurface work.

He notes that Adjustable Forms is one of the most experienced firms in the city when it comes to top-down concrete. “Right now, we’re at level four [of the building] while also working on lower level one,” he says.

Another Bovis project for the company is 235 West Van Buren, a 48-story, 996,000-square-foot condominium tower in Chicago that will be located in the city’s financial district. “It’ll be the largest condominium project in downtown since the 1970s,” Lindquist declares. “It’s a very challenging project.”

The building, which is projected for completion in 2009, will feature 714 residential units from the 14th to the 44th floor. “At ground level, the building will have 10,000 square feet of retail space,” Adjustable Forms says.

A third Chicago project for Bovis is Walton on the Park, which will feature two towers that are joined together at the base. Adjustable Forms is at work on the project’s south tower, which will stand 32 stories, Lindquist says. “We’re getting into the foundation work right now,” he says. When finished, the buildings will have 450 residential condominium units, a swimming pool, sundeck and whirlpool.

Achieving LEED
“LEED certification is becoming a big deal,” Lindquist says. “Right now, we have one project going on that is becoming LEED certified, which is Lexington Park on Chicago’s South Side, [and] numerous others striving to achieve LEED certification as well.”

The building, which Adjustable Forms is working on for Kenny Construction, will be a 35-story condominium complex that will feature an adjacent six-story tower with parking and retail.

According to the company, the building’s reinforced concrete frame will feature a large thermal mass that can help regulate indoor air temperature, while the concrete mix itself uses fly ash as a supplemental cementitious material.

This will allow the project to earn recycled material credits. “There are quite a lot of ways concrete can be incorporated into sustainable design and construction,” Lindquist says, adding that he himself is a LEED-accredited professional.

A Resilient Market
Even with the current abundance of work, Adjustable Forms sees its market becoming “a little more competitive with the economy slowing down,” Lindquist says. “[It is] definitely a lot more competitive than it was in the last two or three years,” he adds.

In addition, the company’s market in Chicago is largely driven by tight schedules. “The vast majority of our work demands [a] three- and four-day cycle,” Lindquist says, explaining that the biggest challenge is maintaining quality at this rate.

“We are fortunate enough to have experienced tradesmen and supervision that can handle these rapid cycles.”

However, “Chicago historically has been pretty resilient to the economy slowing down,” he adds.

He expects the company to enjoy more apartment projects, as well as office and hotel work to come Adjustable Forms’ way.

< Previous Story		Next Story >