Paradigm Construction Co. performs construction management and general contracting duties throughout the Washington, D.C., area.

Premier Business Partners:

The Anderson Company Telligent Masonry Construction Goldin & Stafford, LLC

With experience that ranges from master-planned park developments and commercial projects, to residential high-rises and personal care facilities, Paradigm Construction Co. says it has developed “practical design and construction experience.” Performing construction management and general contracting duties throughout the Washington, D.C., area and surrounding states, the company says it has the hands-on expertise of building quality projects on time and on budget.

“It is important that we build value into our projects,” says Mike Foster, president. “We complete our work more economically and typically faster than our competition, but in doing that we don’t de-value our projects.

“We have processes in place that allow us to add value and work efficiently. We are one of the best high-rise and multi-family contractors in the area, and our reputation gets us a lot of work. We definitely believe word of mouth is the best source of advertising.”

Some of Paradigm’s recently finished projects include the $30 million, 145-unit Carlyle Block Condominium mid-rise in Alexandria, Va., which also included one level of retail space; the $41 million mixed-use Kenyon Square Condos in Washington, D.C.; and the $50 million, 13-story 701 S. Eden Street building, which has 270 residential units, four levels of above-ground parking and one level of retail.

“Our goal on all of our projects is to maximize the performance of our team,” Foster says. “We accomplish that by completing the work ahead of schedule and under budget. It is important that we get involved early in projects and work closely with the architects and designers; we have to ensure a project is designed so it can be built fast. We keep costs in line by using engineered systems that most economically fit the project.”

Paradigm Construction has a number of other residential projects underway. These include:

•  Rosslyn Ridge – This is a $40 million project that will be 16 stories high, have 238 apartments and three levels of underground parking. The company says this will be completed in November 2008.

•  Buckingham Village Townhomes – Located in Arlington, Va., this $23 million development will have 69 luxury town homes; each of them will be four stories and include a two-car garage.

•  Town Center Plaza – This $11 million project in Washington, D.C., is a renovation of an existing 128-unit high-rise apartment building constructed in 1960. It will be rehabilitated to offer 108 modern units with new roofing, windows, HVAC, plumbing and mechanical systems, and architectural finishes.

•  2301 Columbia Pike - This $46 million project in Arlington will have a seven-story concrete frame, 188 apartment units, 30,000 square feet of retail space, 14,000 square feet of office space and three levels of underground parking.

•  Square 673 – Also located in Washington, D.C., this is a 13-story high-rise, including 470 apartments and three levels of underground parking. The contract amount is $110 million.

“We work hard to maintain high standards of quality in every project we are involved with,” Foster says. “We have a strict quality control program in place that involves a series of checklists.

“Our multiple superintendents onsite oversee the very detailed quality control plan and the field workers implement it. Team work is very important in our ability to ensure quality.”

Value-Added Controls
Foster says every Paradigm project ensures cost control from day one. He explains this starts in the conceptual stage when the construction and development teams are working together to estimate costs from the preliminary information. The company’s goal, Foster says, is to avoid false starts, costly modifications and lost opportunities, so it uses conceptual estimating to ensure the latest expenditures and commitments are accessible for making timely and accurate cost projections.

Paradigm also ensures a project is cost effective by being involved early in the design process. Foster stresses everyone must work together to create a design that will produce a budget-friendly, high-quality project. He notes Paradigm helps owners and designers by suggesting alternatives that lower costs, accelerate the schedule and provide more value.

Another way in which Paradigm assists owners is through developing location and site criteria. Foster explains this requires understanding of topographic and soil conditions, stormwater management techniques and slope management to optimize the construction program for a specific site. He says that because site costs are a significant aspect of a typical budget, Paradigm’s experience in cut-and-fill issues, dewatering methods, foundation design and building and parking design help to reduce premium costs.

Lastly, Foster says the company adds “measurable value” to its projects through its experience in choosing the right design team, including design/build components and working with the entire project team to secure high-quality design and reasonable construction costs.
    
Expertise Equals Growth
Foster says Paradigm’s “working experience” with a team of expert development, design and construction personnel bring “significant benefits” to its projects.

“Our skills have allowed us to have significant growth in the last few years,” Foster says. “Last year, we had $155 million in sales, this year we expect to have $185 million and next year we are projecting $220 million.

“We will continue to grow because work is picking up. As long as we keep doing what we’re doing, we will continue to grow in a reasonable way, keep our customers happy and keep our company profitable.”