32 | Upward growth curve Early contractor involvement with EPR Construction means plans are scrutinised from a buildability point of view on the way through. EPR Construction T T Virginia Wright “We do pretty much anything, but we mainly specialise in structural concrete including in-situ concrete, precast construction and tilt-slab panels for heavy commercial and industrial complexes.” REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Having been with Christchurch’s EPR Construction since he started as an apprentice builder with Peter Robertshaw in 2002, Casey Donovan had worked his way up through the company to become the projects manager before officially buying the firm. When Peter stepped back as owner and director in 2021, Casey continued in much the same way as before. “We do pretty much anything, but we mainly specialise in structural concrete including in-situ concrete, precast construction and tilt-slab panels for heavy commercial and industrial complexes,” says Casey “It’s what we were always set up for, and when I bought the company we’d already started transitioning from mainly operating as a preferred concrete contractor for a lot of the bigger companies to doing more of our own work.” The change meant getting more control over the whole contract, liaising with clients, project managing rather than just physically doing the work, and mostly getting to work with their preferred subcontractors. “It allows the company to grow, because as well as control over the contract it gives us control of the flow of projects coming into the company, many of which are for longstanding repeat clients,” says Casey. Typically, Casey looks after the project management, working closely with his site foremen and managers. They are all qualified carpenters, and most of them have been with EPR for over 10 years. “Plus, we have a good core group of subcontractors that we’ve built relationships with over the years, who don’t need to be micro-managed, so that keeps the jobs flowing nicely. We put a lot of trust in our subcontractors so it’s not necessarily about the cost it’s about the service we know we can rely on,” he says. EPR Construction is flexible. A recently completed 15-month contract had EPR running the job at a site level for an Auckland-based design-and-build company. From foundations through to completed building, including the internal fit-outs, they worked with their project manager while building the new premises for the specialist wheelchair manufacturing company, Medifab. A different sort of contract is underway with Verkerks to replace the coolstore that burnt He Refrigeration and Air Conditioning, Equipment Supply, Ice Banks, Water/Glycol Chillers, at Recovery Branches Nationwide Christchurch Support Office www.activerefrigeration.co.nz Email: info@activerefrig.co.nz Phone: (03) 339 2617 Energy Efficient Engineering, 24 Hour Service, Design Build, Preventative Maintenance, Supply & Installation P: 03 366 8679 M: 021 322 847 E: admin@jjsteel.co.nz Structural Steel Fabrication & Erector SOUTH ISLAND WIDE JJSTEEL.NZ down five years ago. EPR has worked with Verkerks on various projects for 15 years or so, and Casey has been involved in this one since day one, helping with the insurance claim and working through the design of the new building with their consultants: architects, structural and geotech engineers and so on. Early contractor involvement with EPR Construction means plans are scrutinised from a buildability point of view on the way through. “Plans aren’t just dumped on my desk once they’re consented. We’ve worked through a lot of what could be construction issues while the building’s being designed, rather than them coming up while you’re building,” Casey says. Consents are through, ground remediation work and specialist earthworks are complete, and EPR is getting on with the foundations, floor slabs and pre-cast concrete wall panels of the new chiller in anticipation of the specialist elements and contractors needed for the technical requirements of the chiller coming along behind them. They are all under Casey’s experienced management, as he works on behalf of the client to ensure the project stays on budget and on schedule. Along with the new coolstore build comes a new refrigeration plant for the entire factory, and the upgrading and earthquake strengthening of various ancillary buildings, complete with a new fire sprinkler system throughout. It’s a multi-faceted project with an anticipated finish date of November 2026, and given the safe pair of hands running it there’s every chance it will be completed on time and on budget as planned.
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