< PreviousSince then, Toro has experienced exponential growth, expand- ing its team from a single employee in 2014 to nearly 140 today. Toro's team now includes some of the industry’s best talent in every department from business development to con- struction and estimating. President Luis Vazquez attributes the incredible growth of Toro to his “fearless” team. “We try to allocate and grow within our walls, nurturing our own team before we go outside and find someone,” says Vazquez. “So, we have people who care about the company and just believe in what we do. They work hard for us. I think the key to our success was finding the right people. This is the one thing we brag about- that our greatest talent is finding great talent.” Beyond its carefully curated team, what sets Toro apart is its focus on the public sector and its ability to navigate the complexities of government contracts. Toro has a strong track record of delivering on-time and on-budget results in K-12 education, housing, aviation, and retail projects. Toro Construction Corp offers a diversity of services, ranging from commercial construction to residential projects. One of its innovative divisions, Integrity Wall, focuses on prefab con- struction, including 4 and 5-story buildings and single-family homes. This division allows Toro to manufacture homes in its shop and deliver and install them within a week, satisfying a growing demand for affordable housing in the Midwest. Another notable service is Toro's Renewables Division, concentrating on solar energy projects. Spearheaded by Toro CEO, Socorro Vasquez, Toro's foray into solar energy began in 2017 and the company has since leveraged an exciting opportunity to grow in this sector. “Two years ago, a company from California came to us looking for a minority contractor here in Illinois to partner with. They were looking for an organization that could, first, meet compliance and, second, grow capacity here in Illinois. We have an agreement to work together and slowly start to develop solar projects in Illinois,” says Luis Vazquez. This partnership continues to flourish, with plans to undertake $50-60 million in solar projects in Illinois in the next couple of years. These projects include community solar panels and subdivisions designed to be energy-efficient, demonstrating Toro's commitment to sustainability and green building practices. The diversity of services offered by Toro not only provides dif- ferent revenue streams to underpin the company’s resilience but also ensures that the company remains busy through seasonal fluctuations. By pivoting its teams and cross-train- ing employees across divisions, Toro maximizes efficiency and keeps employees engaged. This approach allows Toro to adapt to market fluctuations and maintain a strong position in the construction industry in Chicago and the Midwest. “Our greatest talent is finding great talent.” | 60 MAY 2024SUPPLYING CONSTRUCTION PROS ACROSS CHICAGO WITH QUALITY BUILDING PRODUCTS fbmsales.com FBM Addison, Illinois 2301 Windsor Court, Unit B Addison, IL 60101 (331) 551-840 FBM Chicago, Illinois 4140 S. Racine Avenue Chicago, IL 60609-2525 (773) 640-5431 FBM Round Lake Park, Illinois 195 Porter Drive Round Lake Park, IL 60073-3634 (847) 546-4343 Luis Vazquez was recently honored with the HACIA (His- panic American Construction Industry Association) General Contractor of the Year Award. This prestigious recognition spotlights Luis's leadership and commitment to supporting Hispanics and Latinos in the construction industry. Toro Con- struction's considerable involvement in the community and dedication to delivering contracts to minority individuals were key factors in earning this recognition. This HACIA General Contractor of the Year Award holds special significance as it marks the first time this recognition has been presented to a Hispanic general contractor. This milestone highlights Luis's pioneering role in the industry and Toro's dedication to work- force diversity and community engagement. Receiving this award validates the impact of Toro’s work and commitment to serving the Chicago community at large, but more specif- ically the underserved LatinX and Hispanic communities of this area. This award not only recognizes past achievements but also catalyzes future success, inspiring Toro Construction Corp to continue its mission of community service through its work in the construction industry. Community involvement and workforce diversity are integral to Toro Construction's core values and operational strategy. Toro's commitment to diversity is reflected in its hiring prac- tices, striving for at least 50% of its workforce comprised of minorities. The company exceeds mandated participation percentages, with a focus on engaging minority communities and providing opportunities to women, veterans, and individ- uals from diverse backgrounds. Toro's workforce development program has been instrumen- tal in achieving these goals, ensuring that its team reflects the communities it serves. By going beyond the minimum requirements, Toro demonstrates a genuine commitment to promoting equality and inclusivity in the construction industry. Toro's focus on diversity is driven by a recognition of the inequalities that exist in the industry. “We're witnesses to the lack of equality in this industry. Believe it or not, we've been exposed at all levels. I've been exposed as a worker. I've been exposed as a leader. I've been exposed as a businessman,” says Luis. “There is a lack of opportunities for minorities in this city and I know sometimes it bothers people, but they need to wear our shoes. We don't do this to play the victim role. We just need to enforce those programs because they're there for a reason, there is disparity out there where these contracts are not equally dispersed through minorities.” Through proactive efforts to promote diversity and inclusion, Toro is working to address these disparities and create a more equitable environment for all. This commitment is about meeting regulatory requirements and making a mean- ingful impact on the industry and the communities Toro serves. “Once we have the contracts, we work hard to meet and exceed every requirement. We deliver. But the opportuni- ties need to be available,” says Luis. | 61 APEIRON CONSTRUCTIONRestoreWorks Congratulations to our partners at Toro Construction for receiv- ing the HACIA General Contractor of the Year award. We were honored to work with them on the Churchview Supportive Living restoration project. RestoreWorks specializes in masonry restoration and restorative cleaning. We serve owners and managers of iconic properties throughout Chicago and Northwest Indiana. Our staff are Union trained and experts in masonry restoration, restorative cleaning, tuckpointing, lintel and flashing repair, caulking and sealing, con- crete façade, and balcony repair. We provide free inspections and proposals. To learn more about us, see examples of our project work at www.restoreworks.com. To speak with one of our experts, call 219-924-9700. Toro Construction's achievements as a minority-led company are exemplified by its ground-breaking work on the Churchview project. This project marked a significant milestone as Toro became the first Hispanic-owned company to secure a direct contract with the Department of Housing in Chicago. This affordable housing project, subsidized by the City of Chicago, involved a complete renovation of the units, including cosmetic changes, plumbing fixture upgrades, fire alarm installations, and mechanical improvements. The project also showcased Toro's commitment to diversity, with Hispanic-owned repre- sentatives, developers, and architects involved in the initiative. Despite being smaller than its competitors, Toro completed the Churchview project on budget (its largest project to date). The project presented challenges, such as renovating 80-plus units while minimizing disruption to the tenants who were still occupying their homes in the building. Toro managed to complete the project ahead of schedule, demonstrating its dedication to client satisfaction and quality work. Toro Construction's ongoing involvement in the Firehouse at Garden Homes project exemplifies its commitment to com- munity service and support for essential services. The proj- ect, initiated as a pro bono mission by Luis, aims to address the critical funding and infrastructure challenges faced by the fire department serving the Garden Homes community. The fire department, run on a volunteer basis due to limited funding, has been operating under challenging conditions, and lacking essential facilities like a kitchen, proper sleeping quarters, adequate training rooms, and suitable bathrooms. Churchview Supportive Living was in need of masonry restoration and restorative cleaning. Through partnership with Toro Construction, our team at RestoreWorks was brought in to: • Perform tuckpointing • Restorative cleaning • Brick and masonry repair and rebuilds • Removal and replacement of sealant We’re honored to be a trusted partner to both Toro Construction & Churchview. Should your property need masonry restoration and cleaning, we serve the Greater Chicagoland area. Office: 219-924-9700 | www.restoreworks.com | 62 MAY 2024Toro Construction Corp has taken a proactive approach by engaging with Cook County officials and advocating for increased funding and support. Luis Vazquez invited commis- sioners to visit the Firehouse, highlighting the urgent need for renovations and upgrades. Toro has committed its resources, including the expertise of its marketing department and fund- ing for architectural renderings and floor plans, to support the Firehouse's cause. The ultimate goal of the project is to secure funding for a comprehensive renovation, estimated to cost between $4 and $5 million. Toro's collaboration with LUCHA on the redevelopment of the Humboldt Park United Methodist Church (HPUMC) into afford- able housing showcases a pivotal transformation within the community. This program involved converting a disused church into housing units addressing the urgent need for affordable living spaces. The project embodies LUCHA's broader mission to empower communities through housing advocacy, develop- ment, and community building, particularly focusing on Latino and Spanish-speaking populations. The journey to this suc- cessful bid involved perseverance and strategic alliances. Toro identified an opportunity to partner with Crane Construction, leveraging their combined strengths to meet LUCHA's criteria for a Hispanic-owned company to lead the redevelopment. This joint venture proved to be a winning formula, enabling them to secure the project against larger competitors. This project is part of a larger vision to "reclaim neighbor- hoods" by transforming vacant lots and abandoned proper- ties into vibrant, livable spaces. This initiative is not just about building homes but revitalizing communities and fostering a sense of belonging and pride among residents. By focusing on ground-up construction of single-family units, with its fast, accessible, and affordable prefab homes, Toro, with United Power, aims to breathe new life into neglected areas, turning them into thriving neighborhoods. The project demonstrates how collaborative efforts between non-profits, contractors, and other stakeholders can lead to meaningful change, mak- ing homeownership more accessible to low-income families and building housing security. “Right now, in Chicago, the cost to provide an affordable unit to people with any ground-up building, costs the city almost $500,000 per unit just for someone to come in and rent,” says Luis. “The message we're trying to deliver to the city and the state is that if we subsidized this program with $150,000 per home, someone can afford this home for $220,000. That means you can put 1000 families to live in their own homes for $150 million, as opposed to the current market where you're able to deliver only 300 of them.” Toro Construction Corp is poised to maintain its uphill tra- jectory for the next 5-10 years. With ambitions to become a $60 to $90 million contractor, the company is focused on maintaining a strong team and stabilizing its position in the general contracting industry. Luis Vazquez acknowledges the eventual graduation from minority-owned company status as a natural progression, indicative of Toro's growth and success. The company's strategic direction includes solidifying its presence in its current market before explor- ing opportunities in neighboring states such as Wisconsin, Indiana, and further afield in Tennessee and California. Luis Vazquez underscores the importance of conquering the cur- rent construction market and establishing robust leadership as prerequisites for successful expansion. Despite Toro Construction's ambitious plans for growth and expansion, the heart of its mission remains steadfast in supporting minority and underserved populations within the communities where it operates. This unwavering com- mitment is a cornerstone of Toro's identity, reflecting a deep understanding of its roots and the critical role it plays in fos- tering inclusivity and opportunity. As Toro ventures into new markets and sectors, its dedication to uplifting and empow- ering these communities will continue to be integral to its strategy, ensuring that its success translates into meaningful impact beyond the realms of construction and renewable energy. This balance of growth with social responsibility underscores Toro's vision not just as a company aiming for financial milestones, but as a community leader invested in making a lasting difference. | 63 APEIRON CONSTRUCTION| 64 MAY 2024WRITTEN BY RAQUEL FARRINGTON F rom humble beginnings in 1974, Insulated Roofing Con- tractors initially operated out of the back of a pick-up truck. Since then, the company has become the go-to contractor in the Spray Foam industry with nearly 9,000 com- pleted jobs and over 140 million square feet of installed roof. It’s safe to say Insulated Roofing Contractors (IRC) has had a landmark 50 years in business. On average, IRC installs about seven 7 million square feet of roof per year, with completed jobs as large as the Superdome, West Virginia University Coliseum and Miami Airport. The company is committed to providing the right roofing solution for its clients’ needs but believes in the quality and efficiency of spray foam, a core offering. | 65 APEIRON CONSTRUCTIONFamily owned, the company is known for its experience, integrity, and quality – and above all else – providing a unique product to the market with services spanning resto- ration coating, singly ply, roofing maintenance services and Sprayed Polyurethane Foam services — a key differentiator for IRC. “We are actually the largest spray foam roofing contractor in the United States,” remarks Justin Baird, Director of Market- ing and Business Development. A member of the tightknit family-run team, he is proud to work alongside his father, uncle, sister, brother-in-law, and cousins for a company his grandfather and great uncle started half a century ago. Sprayed Polyurethane Foam, or more simply known as SPF, has become one of the most impressive roofing materials on the market due to its ease of installation and lifelong perfor- mance. Key features of spray foam include: • Seamless and fully self-adhering • Requires no fasteners, eliminating thermal bridging • Conforms to irregular shapes and expands to fill cracks • Provides a waterproof monolithic seamless roof system • Withstands the most extreme weather conditions • Greater resistance to wind uplift and hail damage • Highest R-values on the market • Acts as a heat, moisture, and air barrier • Decreases energy expenses SKYTITE ® has you covered. SPF.BASF.com | 1-888-900-FOAM (3626) •Improved occupant comfort •Easy maintenance Increased energy efficiency• •High wind-uplift resistance •Simple, leak-free application • •Meets and exceds stringent building codes •Renewable with recoats and long lifespan Minimal tear-off in retrofit applications Features and benefits of BASF closed-cell roofing systems: Designing a project that requires a new or retrofit low-slope roof? “The cost of entry can be high,” says Baird of the reason many roofing contractors don’t offer it. “You have to buy all the materials and train staff to install it properly and of course it can be installed improperly if you’re not careful.” It takes a team of dedicated, highly-skilled, conscientious roofers to install it properly, which is why IRC believes they are the best people for the job.” The foam IRC works with is a HFC-blown, Zero Ozone-De- pleting SPF. The system is ideal for commercial buildings, especially large buildings with irregular shapes or complex layouts. Polyurethane foam is a monolithic insulation formed by mixing an ISO component with a resin blend. At the time of installation, the materials are heated and pumped through precisely metered, plural component equipment and blended directly on the roof as they are sprayed out of the gun. | 66 MAY 2024“Family owned, the company is known for its experience, integrity, and quality – and above all else – providing a unique product to the market.” The biggest threat to SPF is UV exposure. SPF must be pro- tected from the sun after installation to avoid accelerated deterioration. SPF can be protected from the sun with a renewable coating, usually in the form of silicone, acrylic, or urethane. The protective coating is spray-applied directly over top of the foam, where it provides UV protection, additional waterproofing, and increased protection from the elements. To further increase the protection the coating provides, build- ing owners often elect to have roofing granules laid down in the wet coating for additional durability and protection from the elements, or to designate walkways. IRC is proud to provide roofing solutions spanning a variety of industries including education, aviation, pharmaceuticals and food and beverage with some high-profile projects in the Midwest and the southern U.S. | 67 APEIRON CONSTRUCTIONUnion Station Project Directly in the middle of downtown Indianapolis sits a train station that is iconic to the city. It is the first Union Station and was built in 1853. This iconic facility has taken part in the transportation of millions of people and goods in the last 164 years. These days, Union Station is an office, parking, and public meeting space that also houses restaurants and entertainment. The train station itself remains open and is fully operational. The roof at Union Station was in very poor condition. Leaks, broken skylights, and poor roof access were among the many issues. These problems needed to be fixed, but there were many obstacles in the way. First of all, Union Station is located in a downtown area, meaning it’s surrounded by other buildings, vehicles, and pedestrians that create a challenge for industrial work. Second, because the station is elevated, getting equipment to the rooftop would be difficult. With such a rich history and reputation, the facility manag- ers didn’t want to change the look of the facility when they installed a new roof. They recognized the importance of preserving relics such as this and maintaining their beauty. Insulated Roofing Contractors approached the property management of Union Station with a proposal to apply spray foam and bright red coating. This would preserve the iconic look of the roof while also protecting it. IRC would use coating specially developed by Progressive Materials. The proposal included a plan to store equipment on the elevated sections of Union Station to overcome the challenge of moving equip- ment each day. The spray foam and red coating system would give Union Station a brand-new roof surface while preserving the historic look of the station and preventing damage to the surroundings. • Removed old spray foam that was cracked, damaged, or wet. • Power-washed entire roof to remove any dirt or grease stains. • Installed 2.5 inches of new spray foam. • Applied light gray silicone coating to entire roof at a thickness of 30 mils. • Applied granules to field of roof for improved durability and traction. • Applied custom red silicone coating to monitors at a thick- ness of 20 mils. With the new roof in place, Union Station will be safe and dry for years to come. The new roof comes with a 15-year leak- free warranty, in addition to these other benefits: • Improved energy efficiency. • Elimination of current and prevention of future leaks. • Simplified repairs and improvements for maintenance crew. • Preserved and enhanced iconic look of roof. | 68 MAY 2024The Superdome in New Orleans The Louisiana Superdome is a multi-purpose stadium located in the Central Business District of New Orleans, Louisiana, home to the New Orleans Saints football team. In 2002, the Superdome had an EPDM rubber roof installed, which was claimed to resist winds up to 200 MPH. Unfortunately, in August of 2005, the roof was put to the test when Hurricane Katrina formed over the Bahamas and, over the course of the next week, made its way to the southern United States. The deadly Category 5 Atlantic hurricane dev- astated the city of New Orleans and its surrounding area in 2015 with many lives lost and damage to property and city infrastructure. The roof of the Superdome was completely torn apart by Hur- ricane Katrina. IRC stepped in to provide roofing repair, opting for an SPF roof, which resists wind better than any other sys- tem on the market and even offers a wind warranty option. • Power washed the smooth surface built-up roof to remove all dirt and grease stains. • Swept the roof surface to remove any debris left behind from the power washing. • Any damaged areas and lap seams were fixed using a three- course coating-fabric-coating system. Insulated Roofing Contractors was on the job once spray foam was chosen as the new roofing system. The remaining EPDM roof had to be removed, and the steel decking had to be rebuilt and replaced. Once the steel decking was replaced, the new SPF roof system was applied directly to the new deck. On top of the foam, a urethane coating was applied. This new foam roof not only received a 10-year manufacturer’s warranty against leaks, but the roof also came with a guaran- tee that the roof would not blow off – even in a Category 5 hurricane. This new warranty has no dollar limit and is non-pro- rated, a huge bonus for the Superdome. Benefits include: • Increased energy savings • Easy to maintain • Manufacturers warranty for up to 20 years • UL rated; IRI & FM approved • Dade County approved • Seamless, self-flashing and fully adhered IRC is grateful to be celebrating its 50th anniversary and is looking to a future of continued growth and expansion across the country, with its sights set on the Western and Southern United States. If you’re in need of roof repair or roof maintenance, fill out theIRC request form.Next >