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Rhode Island’s Dimeo Construction Co. has built a reputation throughout New England for innovative construction management and general contracting services for customers in the academic, corporate, healthcare, retail and industrial sectors, President Bradford S. Dimeo says.

As a member of the third generation of Dimeo family leadership, he is focused on continued growth and professional development.

Dimeo says the company’s largest and most challenging current project is the Natick Collection, a large expansion of retail components, including two new residential towers, parking decks and mall renovations, in Natick, Mass.

“For us, it’s a little over $400 million assignment, and the total investment there is well over $750 million between various tenants and other work being done,” he explains. “It’s a fascinating project, challenged by a tight site and highlyconstrained traffic area and existing operations. So, it’s unique and very challenging.”

The mall remained operational throughout the bulk of the construction, with up to 1,200 Dimeo Construction employees, as well as hundreds of subcontractors, working on the job at one time.

The entire project encompasses 2.4 million square feet. The retail portion of the project was turned over to the owner in September 2007, and the remainder is scheduled to be completed this summer.

MBTA Project
The company is also working on a project above the existing Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA)  commuter line in Boston. The Avenir project, a new $150 million, 240,000-square-foot residential structure, is located at the corner of Canal and Causeway Streets above the MBTA Green and Orange line Superstation, which accommodates more than 10,000 people per day, and is located conveniently close to North Station.

Dimeo Construction is the construction manager on both the Avenir and Natick Collection projects. Dimeo estimates 80 to 85 percent of the company’s work is done as a construction manager. It also takes on design/build and general contracting projects.

Exceeding Expectations
Dimeo Construction’s primary focus is the New England market, but it occasionally branches out into other regions. It is headquartered in Providence, R.I., and has offices in New Haven, Conn., and Boston.

Dimeo says several things set the company apart from competitors. “Our hands-on management team is intimately involved with each and every project we take on,” he explains. “We have a relatively flat organizational structure and a lot of great talent. Many of our top project managers and superintendents have been with us for 15 to 30 years.

“They are true, tried and tested veterans who understand our business from a day-to-day standpoint, who really help owners do a great job of putting good work in place.”

Dimeo says owners are increasingly asking the company to push the pace, and focus on high-performance buildings and green standards. “We’ve done a string of LEED projects and we’ve had six certified buildings that have met various rating levels,” he says. “We probably have 12 current projects that are trying to meet LEED certification at various levels underway.

“There is a huge push in the industry to think about the type of buildings you’re putting in place and how they affect the environment. We’ve been focused on that for three or four years, and have over 20 LEED-accredited professionals on staff.”

Dimeo says the company runs regular training programs to get even more employees LEED-accredited. “There is a huge push in that regard, both internally and in the industry,” he adds.

The company is also involved in a national peer group organized by FMI. Dimeo says it has helped the company broaden its services and incorporate best practices, including BIM applications and Web platform project communications.

“Over the last few years, this peer group has helped launch our firm into another level of service provided to owners and clients. It’s really gotten us outside our box in terms of how we provide preconstruction services, safety on job sites and owner updates – it’s made us excel.”

Broad Base
Dimeo Construction’s broad base of projects allow it to survive the ebbs and flows of each sector, Dimeo says. “We are always solidly in the mix of each of our categories,” he explains. “Sometimes, one falls depending on the needs in the marketplace.”

The company employs 225 full-time professionals and approximately 200 tradespeople, most of whom work full time, depending on volume.

Dimeo says he expects to see continued growth in the educational/institutional and hospital/healthcare markets. “We have seen some wonderful growth over the last several years, and hope to maintain that in years to come despite the challenges in the economy right now,” he says.