Based in Homewood, Ill., Graycor Construction specializes in interior and exterior construction services for the corporate, cultural/educational, healthcare, living and lodging, and retail markets.

As a family owned company, Matthew Gray says Graycor Construction Co. Inc. is able to act with more efficiency than some of its competitors. “In this organization, we have a very tight, small group of people who are in the family that can make things happen immediately,” the president explains.

“In an industry that is full of turmoil, we're able to provide a measure of continuity and stability,” he declares. “That is a critical prerequisite for building enduring relationships.”

Based in Homewood, Ill., Graycor Construction specializes in interior and exterior construction services for the corporate, cultural/educational, healthcare, living and lodging, and retail markets. The company is a division of Graycor Inc., a contractor of commercial and industrial maintenance projects.

According to Gray, Graycor Construction's roots lay in the Chicago Concrete Breaking Co., founded by his grandfather, Edward Gray, in 1921. Initially, the company specialized in explosives used for controlled blasting.

Soon afterward, it received a contract to remove a railroad retaining wall in Grant Park in Chicago.

“The engineers had specified that it be done without interrupting train service,” Matthew Gray says, noting that his grandfather managed to complete the project without any interruptions. “That really established his credibility in engineering and logistics,” he says.

It led the company to adopt the slogan, “Wanted - a hard job.” Additionally, Gray says, the spirit of his grandfather has remained with Graycor ever since. “We really drive that home with our people that this company is all about delivering value, exceeding expectations to our clients every day,” he explains.

During the early 1930s, Chicago Concrete entered the steel industry, and in the following decades, created new technologies and methods for the industry.

In 1954, The Edward Gray Corp. was established. By the late 1970s, the company had evolved into a full-service construction and industrial services company.

In 1982, Edward Gray Corp. acquired Inland Construction Co., a general building contractor. This acquisition diversified the once primarily industrial company.

Expanding Its Presence
Upon its 75th anniversary, all of Graycor's companies were renamed and given its namesake - Graycor - to reflect common ownership. Inland was renamed Graycor Construction Co. In 2002, Graycor purchased Capitol Construction Services L.P., a contractor based in Palatine, Ill. It was ultimately merged with Graycor Construction.

“Capitol was a prominent regional builder in its own right and had a national presence,” Gray says. In addition to having a presence in Chicago, Capitol operated an office in Tempe, Ariz., and specialized in providing interior construction for clients across the nation.

“By merging the two together, we were able to strengthen our presence in Chicago and the upper Midwest, as well as enhance our capability to serve clients nationally,” Gray explains.

Today, Graycor Construction operates two offices in Palatine and Homewood, allowing it to serve clients throughout Chicago's metropolitan area. In addition, he says, the company is establishing an office in Los Angeles.

With its presence in Arizona, he notes, the company has been able to serve clients in the Southwest, including Sunrise Development Inc., the Chase Bank and Marriott.

Gray notes that the company's projects have included hospitals, office buildings, shopping centers, hotels, assisted living communities and performing arts centers. “We really have the capability to build just about anything that would fall in the realm of commercial construction,” he states.

He notes, however, that Graycor Construction is particular when it comes to choosing projects. He explains that the company will evaluate whether or not it can add value for the potential client. “Once we decide it's a Graycor client, then we have the flexibility and the capability to do just about anything for that client,” he adds.

A current project for Graycor Construction is The Promenade at Bolingbrook in Bolingbrook, Ill. Gray explains that, when finished, the Promenade will be a 1.1 million-square-foot shopping center, featuring department stores as well as a movie theater. He notes that it is projected for completion by spring 2007.

He also highlights The Shops at Atlas Park, a lifestyle center that the company is constructing in Queens, N.Y. “It's on 12 acres of former industrial land that's being converted into 400,000 square feet of retail and office space,” Gray explains.

The Shops at Atlas Park will also feature two multi-story parking garages, a movie theater and a central park area with an interactive fountain and gazebo. While the center opened this past April, he notes that Graycor Construction is currently in the second phase of the project.

Maintaining Performance
Gray started with the company when he was 13. Over the years, he says, he has developed a love for the business. “It's a tough business, but it's a great business,” he states. “I've been incredibly fortunate.”

He notes that the company strives to continue the 86-year legacy of its parent company. To maintain its level of responsiveness, flexibility and efficiency, Gray says Graycor Construction continuously strives to improve itself. This includes a strong emphasis on recruiting, developing and retaining the right people.

“We place an enormous emphasis on that,” Gray notes. “We're a service business, and we live and die on the results that our people achieve. We're constantly looking at how we can help them do their jobs better.” Additionally, Gray says, Graycor Construction constantly invests in its systems, infrastructure and training.

“We have a good, healthy system of checks and balances in place, and a rigor in our methodology,” he says. “We're constantly evaluating where we stand and taking a realistic look at where we are.”

He notes that the task of preserving the work ethic and values that its customers have come to expect from the company is also a challenge. “Sometimes, you have to make some tough decisions to do that,” he states. “Not every person is going to be the right colleague for us. It just takes a lot of discipline to stay true.”

Doing the Impossible
Gray notes that Graycor Construction's subcontractors are essential to the company's ability to meet its clients' expectations. “Our clients have a tendency to ask us to perform the near impossible,” he states.

“We pride ourselves on achieving those things,” he says. “So we look for subcontractors who similarly take pride in delivery for us.” While the company may be demanding of its subcontractors or suppliers, Gray notes that Graycor Construction also strives to ensure that its subcontractors have the proper conditions to work.

“We understand that, in order to perform exceptionally, conditions have to be made to allow for exceptional performance,” he explains.

“It's our responsibility to create those conditions on our job sites,” he continues. “We understand that it's our responsibility to help our subcontractors and suppliers to perform and we take that role seriously.

“It's all very consistent,” he says, noting that Graycor Construction's clients realize they also play a part in ensuring that the company performs with excellence. “We all recognize that we all have a role to play and a responsibility to each other in order to achieve [excellence].”