Building Nevada - March 2005

United Construction Company

Versatile Contractor Builds Success in Nevada

United Construction Company (UCC) consistently ranks in the top 10 construction companies in Nevada by sales volume, and in listings by the Design-Build Institute of America has ranked as the No. 1 design-build company in Northern Nevada and the No. 2 design-build firm in the state.

According to DBIA, the design-build process puts both design and construction in the hands of one entity, so there is a single point of responsibility for quality, cost and scheduling. "What we offer our clients is a quality, seamless building experience," said Las Vegas Area Manager Brian Roush, who explained that a large percentage of new projects come to UCC as referrals from clients satisfied with previous jobs.

The company’s project list includes Harley Davidson Financial Services Call Center (Carson City), Pfizer Western Logistics Facility (Reno) and Southern Wine & Spirits Nevada Headquarters (Las Vegas). Pfizer Senior Engineer of Product Services Joseph Jensen stated, "UCC was selected to construct our facility on a design-build basis because of their familiarity with the design and construction of distribution facilities in the Reno area, the overall strength of the design and construction team and most importantly, Pfizer’s belief that UCC would deliver a high-quality facility that would serve our needs for many years to come."

United Construction Company was established in Reno in 1978, and opened an office in Las Vegas in 1991. It employs approximately 75 people and constructed $80 million worth of projects in 2004. UCC offers a wide range of services in the commercial field, including: design-build for new construction and tenant improvements; design-assist for new construction, tenant improvements and renovations; general contracting for new construction, tenant improvement and renovation projects; and construction management services. Its institutional experience ranges from schools and day care facilities to insurance company headquarters and federal office complexes. Office projects include Dermody Properties headquarters, Nevada Bell operations center, America West Airlines reservation center, Spiegel customer order center and Social Security Administration offices.

The company has received numerous awards, including: the 2003 SPOTLIGHT Honor Award for the Southern Wine & Spirits Nevada Headquarters; the 2002 Nevada Pinnacle Award for the Donald W. Reynolds Community Center; and the 2001 Excellence in Construction Award for the Pfizer Western Logistics Facility.

"Great projects don’t just happen," said Craig Willcut, president and CEO. "Our ‘hands-on’ approach to business guarantees our clients’ projects will receive all the attention they require, down to the smallest detail."

As with most general contractors, United Construction Company faces the challenge of rising material costs. "We are committed to providing our clients with fair pricing, but we have encountered the ‘sticker shock’ our clients are experiencing due to increased material costs," explained Willcut. Finding and retaining qualified employees is another potential obstacle to be overcome, but the company’s executive staff is optimistic about the future due to their careful growth strategies.

Moving forward, the company’s corporate plans include controlled growth. UCC aims to maintain its position as a leading general contractor in Nevada, and will focus on the Las Vegas Valley for additional company growth.

"We are very enthusiastic about the future of building in Southern Nevada – that’s why United Construction Company selected Las Vegas to focus on for its expansion," stated Sallie Doebler, UCC’s business development representative for Las Vegas. "Many of our clients have operations in Reno as well as Las Vegas. With the strong platform that UCC represents in Reno, we offer clients a solid source of reliability for building needs across the state."