< PreviousTo make matters even more complicated, the city insisted on the pedestrian crossing running underneath the roadway, rather than over it as you would expect to see in a traditional project of this type. To accomplish this, Vital had to build out the pathway, all while keeping the road above in a functional condition. “We never really shut down the traffic at all,” Marti- nez says. “There were always lanes going. At night, when we worked, we only had to take it down to one lane each direc- tion.” To pull off this feat, Vital put its skill and innovation to good use, building an underground bridge, rather than follow- ing the process for a traditional tunnel. By taking a top-down approach in which precast sections of concrete were first set across the road to build out the bridge. Vital then performed the necessary work of excavating the dirt underneath. It was a complicated engineering plan to execute, but Martinez and his team delivered. While the project rightfully earned Vital an award from the American Concrete Institute, the highest praise came from the city and the local public who were pleased that this stand- out project had been accomplished without creating a traffic bottleneck in the beating heart of Santa Fe. Aesthetically, the project bears an outside-the-box look, finding it well at home in a city known for its artistic flair and cultural importance. More crucially, the project was built safely and Vital’s handiwork will allow the easy passage of cars and pedestrians alike for years to come. The need to balance the visual and structural elements of the job, was a considerable challenge. In order to achieve this, Vital collaborated with the project’s four archi- tects, combining their vision with the diligent planning of the crossing’s engineering team. Now, by the intersection of St. Francis Dr. and Cerrillos Rd., we find a passageway that sits at the crossroads of both function and form. “This was a city of Santa Fe job,” Martinez says, “but even the state highway department and the federal highway department performed a lot of their own inspections. They liked what we were doing.” Vital Consulting Group is building a strong legacy. Having been in business for 15 years, the company has learned and evolved over time. For Martinez, this growth and education now enables the company to serve the market with the high- est quality and standards. “When I started Vital Consulting Group,” he recalls, “I had been working for a lot of contractors for many years. I took my knowledge in construction man- agement, estimating, takeoffs, contracting, scheduling, and other areas and put it together to offer consulting services.” | 40 NOVEMBER 2023CONCRETE, AGGREGATE AND ASPHALT TESTING PROVIDING THE ALL-IN-ONE SOLUTION TO QUALITY TESTING AND MIX DESIGNS Zero- Speed Profiler | Equipment Calibration and Repair | Concrete Mix Designs R.A.P Extractions/ Grading/ Blending | Field Testing | WMA / HMA , FDR, and OGFC WWW.CA2TESTING.COM (505) 718 - 3030 17 Centro Algodones, Algodones, NM 87001 Andrea@CA2Testing.com Along with his business partner, Martinez offered consul- tancy services for a number of years. However, having put his licenses for construction under the Vital name, market changes in 2014 would see Martinez return to the world of contracting. At the time, some of New Mexico’s biggest concrete contractors were drifting out of the market. As Martinez explains, there was a clear need for a new com- pany that could do everything from flatwork to structural builds at a high level. Having a great deal of experience in concrete, Martinez chose to pivot, altering the trajectory of Vital Consulting in the process. “We had five or six employ- ees,” Martinez recalls, “I was running all the office work by myself. Today, we have 87 employees. It’s quite a difference in a relatively short time.” | 41 APEIRON CONSTRUCTIONThe growth of the company can be seen across a variety of metrics. Since 2014, Vital has gone from executing $2 million worth of work to over $26 million last year. “It’s been a big jump,” Martinez says. “We've gone through some hard changes that weren't foreseeable, but through them we've continued to grow. All the time I hear people saying, ‘we want to be the biggest contractor in the state,’ but I've always stressed to our guys that I want to be the best. I want to be proud of what we do. I want to have the owners and vendors trust us and want to come to us.” Unsurprisingly, this growth and expansion is set to continue. Furthering its ability to serve the southwestern market, Vital has been able to acquire three concrete production plants. As Martinez explains, this will help the company produce and deliver concrete to the job site faster than any of its compet- itors. “Our two large plants are capable of doing 275 yards of material an hour,” he says, “and one that's capable of doing about 30 or 40 yards an hour. We use that one on the smaller bridge jobs and projects that are in remote locations.” When dealing with high performance projects such as runways, having its own source of production ensures that materials are of the highest standard and that the company can oversee all elements of construction to ensure that the product meets all necessary government standards. “Furthering its ability to serve the southwestern market, Vital has been able to acquire three concrete production plants.” | 42 NOVEMBER 2023Being the best means that Vital has recently been trusted with one of the most structurally demanding jobs in flat and horizontal work: runway and airport apron improvements. On a recent job for Albuquerque International Airport, the company performed this demanding work to the tune of $12 million. As Martinez shares, working as the prime con- tractor on a key area of an active airport meant that good communication was key to the project’s success. “We have a really good relationship with the Aviation Department here in Albuquerque, working with their engineering and planning department team. I think they see our quality of work and we continue to work on projects with them.” As he explains, this specialty skill is key to the company’s vision for future growth. “We are moving to expand our work in the federal market with more Air Force, Army, and Navy work at their bases,” he says. “Many of these bases date back to World War II. They’re 50, 60-year-old airports, and they are starting to deteriorate. We are excellent at concrete paving, and we want to go out there and show what we can do.” A proud member of the Associated Builders and Contractors’ New Mexico Chapter, Vital continues to work on some of the southwest’s most critical projects. A company that has learned to adapt in order to best suit the market that it serves, Vincent Martinez and his team continue to be as vital to clients, fellow contractors, and the community as concrete is to construction. | 43 APEIRON CONSTRUCTION| 44 NOVEMBER 2023WRITTEN BY MANUELA ARMINI E thical, committed to quality, and proudly local. These are the three pillars on which Klinger Constructors was founded over 40 years ago. Established in Albuquerque in 1982, the company still holds these pillars up as the standard, every single day. Over time, the company has made its mark in New Mexico by building quality commercial, industrial, high- tech, and healthcare projects. Equally significant, it has strived for decades to create long-lasting partnerships. The company offers construction, pre-construction, design-assist-build, design-build, manager-at-risk, and facility maintenance services. In addition to these services, Klinger Constructors' ethical conduct has played just as large a part in both its longevity, and the consolidation of profitable partnerships. The company believes in the importance of honest interactions, upholding both professional and legal standards to maintain ethical practices. | 45 APEIRON CONSTRUCTIONTo be precise, the history of Klinger Constructors started approximately 104 years ago in Sioux City, Iowa, as W. A. Klinger. The company moved to Albuquerque in 1982 and quickly established its presence across New Mexico. This move was made significantly easier by being an Associated Builders and Contractors member. In fact, ABC membership played a pivotal role in its growth and integration into the local community. As of today, Klinger Constructors has performed over $2 billion of work in New Mexico alone. In 1988, the com- pany established one of its first, and still ongoing, partnerships with Intel Corporation. This long-lasting relationship is not an isolated case, either. “We're about finding the right clients and doing a good job for them. We don’t get caught up in volume,” says Adam J. Leyba, Executive Vice President at Klinger Con- structors. “We negotiate almost 75% of our work. We have a long list of clients that will continually call us for projects,” con- tinues Senior Project Manager Jeff Slopek. “Getting that repeat business is a testament to how customers feel about our qual- ity, cost control, schedule, everything.” Self-performing most of its work from concrete to steel, carpentry, and occasionally electrical, Klinger Constructors operates more like a building company than a construction manager. “We get involved. That is why we have over 100 people in the field,” says Leyba. “We employ ironworkers, master craftsmen, guys that could do it all. We're proud to be a merit shop construction company.” A recent project carried out for Arcosa is a fine example of how Klinger Constructors has built a legacy of quality. The opportunity to work on this project arose thanks to the com- pany’s previous involvement with the facility. Approximately 30 years ago, it had built the structure when it belonged to another company. Remarkably, the company's current presi- dent had served as the project manager during the initial con- struction. When Arcosa acquired the property and reviewed the old plans, they noticed Klinger Constructors' name associated with the project. Impressed by its past work, they reached out, establishing a connection that had come full circle after nearly three decades. | 46 NOVEMBER 2023Klinger Constructors is currently working on its third Blue- Halo Project. According to Slopek, it is further evidence of the benefit that comes from clear planning and excellent com- munication. “It started as a hard bid with three contractors, and the project had a very tight deadline,” he says. “We were a little bit more expensive, but I gave them a plan on how we were going to be able to do it, and they decided to go with us.” Despite a short, six-month timeframe to complete the remodeling, Klinger Constructors successfully delivered the project, showcasing the company’s efficiency and dedication to its work. This has led to immediate repeat business. Although it has worked on an array of different projects, Klinger Constructors’ focus is on industrial and commercial buildings. “We do a little bit of everything. But we try to be selective on what types of job we're going to do, and we are very picky in selecting customers,” says Leyba. Regardless of the kind of project, Klinger Constructors gets involved very early in the process, providing preconstruction services and collaborating with clients to establish an upfront budget based on the client's vision and the company’s experience. “We get everything the client wants, and if the price exceeds their budget, we go back, do some value engineering, and make changes. So, we can still give them what they want, but within budget,” says Slopek. Another advantage of being a design-build contractor is the ability to foresee potential issues with the project and address them from the get-go. This approach allows Klinger Constructors to expedite the procurement of vital materials, ensuring client satisfaction. Klinger Constructors focuses heavily on sustainability and green building initiatives, aiming to contribute to a better tomorrow. The company has extensive expertise in the LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) process. Six of its staff members are LEED-accredited professionals and active members of the US Green Building Council. The focus on sustainability is also evident in the company’s past and present projects. Two examples of Klinger Constructors’ commitment to contributing to a more sustainable future are the projects completed for Kairos Power, a key player in nuclear research and clean energy development, and ongoing work on a wind tower plan in Belen for the company Arcosa. “Klinger Constructors focuses heavily on sustainability and green building initiatives, aiming to contribute to a better tomorrow.” | 47 APEIRON CONSTRUCTIONEstablishing strong local connections and relationships is something Klinger Constructors excels at. Furthermore, it proves to be a significant advantage for both the company and client alike. Klinger Constructors operates primarily in New Mexico. Being a local entity allows it to leverage its familiarity with local institutions and organizations, enhanc- ing its ability to navigate bureaucratic processes efficiently. Regular participation in industry events further fortifies the company’s network. Attending luncheons and other gather- ings provides those within the company with face-to-face interactions, enabling them to showcase the company’s proj- ects and engage in meaningful discussions with influential stakeholders. These well-established connections benefit the company and translate into advantages for clients. Through these networks, it can expedite processes, ensuring that its clients' projects move forward with a smoothness and effi- ciency that competitors cannot match. Many of the company’s employees have worked for the com- pany for over 20 years. “This is a company where people come and stay till they retire. Almost all our superintendents have been at Klinger since before I was born,” says Slopek. “And that’s because of how we treat people.” Valuing its staff and ensuring mutual trust and respect in all interactions are corner- stones of the company’s approach. From team members and customers to suppliers and subcontractors, this is a company that respects and fosters a spirit of cooperation with everyone it works with. The company also provides necessary leader- ship and support to its staff, empowering team members, prioritizing safety in all activities, and providing continuous learning opportunities. “We train our people and give them the opportunity to advance. Jeff and I both started as Project Engi- neers. He's a senior PM now, and I'm a Vice President,” says Leyba. “The safety of our staff is also very important to us. We have a safety bucks program. Employees can use this money | 48 NOVEMBER 2023to buy different things like hats, jackets, you name it.” Klinger Constructors employs dedicated personnel to inspect each job site regularly and provide detailed reports. Additionally, an independent third-party company assesses the sites, ensuring an unbiased evaluation. To enhance safety awareness, the company conducts monthly meetings where employees share near-miss incidents—potential accidents that were avoided. This information is disseminated to all employees, fostering a culture of learning and prevention, enabling them to prevent similar incidents on other projects. With all this in mind, it is easy to see how Klinger Constructors has been a mainstay in New Mexico for over four decades. Looking forward, the company aims to sustain its current momentum and growth trajectory with further objectives to foster internal development and ensure that all team mem- bers align their efforts towards a common goal. By sticking to its well trusted formula of quality and ethics, the smart money would be on the company achieving, and excelling, at these goals. Typically, however, Leyba is a little more con- sidered and measured in his response. “We're pretty proud of our history here in New Mexico,” he says, “and we just want to continue to maintain and nurture what we’ve built.” | 49 APEIRON CONSTRUCTIONNext >