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Left to right: Arisco Contracting Group, Inc.’s Chief Estimator and Project Administrator, Dave Kirchhoff, and the firm’s Operations Manager, Tim Frankland.

Arisco Contracting Group, Inc. used 14 different colors of brick to achieve the architectural design for the Sterling Heights Community Center in Sterling Heights, MI.

The quote beneath Tim Frankland’s name in his email signature aptly summarizes the high value that he and his team at Arisco Contracting Group, Inc. (Arisco) place on precision, clarity and quality: “A short pencil is better than a long memory.” In other words, planning and documenting projects well helps Tim and his staff to pay close attention to details, communicate clearly and avoid the ambiguity that can arise from relying on multiple people’s memories.

As the Operations Manager for Arisco since this Fraser, Michigan-based facade construction and restoration company was founded in 2008, Tim has used this basic principle to make strategic investments that have kept Arisco’s crews working year-round throughout the Michigan tri-state area.

“During the middle of our season, we have about 45 people constructing exterior structural walls and air vapor barriers, adding insulation and waterproofing, and installing brick and stone veneers,” Tim says. “We build some interior walls, too, and on the restoration side, we repair stonework, masonry, terracotta, and air and moisture barriers. We opened a second office in Detroit in late 2020 to expand our restoration work.”

Sharpening the Short Pencil

In 2017, Dave Kirchhoff, who’d worked for 20 years as a junior high teacher, decided to make a career change and join Arisco as the company’s Chief Estimator and Project Administrator.

“I earned my Bachelor of Arts degree and elementary teaching certificate from Concordia University in Chicago with a math major and science minor,” Dave says. “I’ve stayed current in technology as it has changed through the years and that helped me transition from one job to the other. I knew Tim before making the switch and inquired about an opportunity he had available. He showed me the basics and I added a few masonry classes on top of that. I’ve also learned a lot from on-the-job training and picked up additional knowledge along the way. Much of my job now involves using computers and technology to provide takeoff numbers and quotes for general contractors.”

Specifically, Dave has begun including a 3D model as part of Arisco’s bid packages to clearly communicate the scope of work associated with the firm’s fee.

“Using building information modeling (BIM) software helps us to be more accurate in quantifying the materials and labor needed for each job,” he says. “When we combine that information with our costs, it narrows the gap for our final price. We don’t mention we’re going to send a computer model; we just submit one with our bid and it gets noticed. When general contractors call to ask questions, they’ll say, ‘Hey, I looked at your 3D model. Tell me more about it.’ It shows them we’ve put a lot of thought and effort into submitting a quality bid. It also enables us to consistently provide competitive pricing.”

Adding Value Throughout Construction

Tim says using computer models has added value well beyond the bidding phase of construction by enhancing project planning, coordination and management.

“The BIM software Dave uses can layer drawings so we can identify any concerns in advance,” Tim says. “If, for example, the mechanical engineer’s drawings show a duct going through a concrete wall, we can see that before construction begins. This eliminates downtime and the additional costs that arise from having to resolve errors like this on site.”

Tim and Dave say Arisco’s work on the Sterling Heights Community Center in Sterling Heights, Michigan, is an example of how they’ve used technology to improve project management and achieve a meticulously built, quality result. Construction on this 98,000-square-foot recreation facility was finished in early 2020. In addition to two gymnasiums, a walking track, five fitness rooms, and a tot room and outdoor play area, this building houses a community room, offices and meeting spaces.

“This was the first large job that Dave and I worked on as a team,” Tim says. “Arisco built the facades and some interior walls and did the waterproofing. There were 14 different kinds of brick and we had to keep our quantities exact.”

Dave elaborates: “The brightly colored portions of the custom brick were glazed, so if they weren’t handled correctly, they could chip or break and we’d have to order more. Some of the corner bricks for the exterior walls had to have one color on one side of the corner and a different color on the other. We also built some interior walls using glazed concrete block in the gym and a burnished block to decorate the atrium entrance.”

Fortunately, Dave says, Arisco started work on the Sterling Heights Community Center project around the time the firm began using BIM software for cost estimating and project management.

“At the start, I’d do the takeoffs both ways—longhand and with the computer model—to make sure my numbers were agreeing with each other,” he explains. “As I got more comfortable with the computer model and trusted it, I began to rely solely on that method. We used the software to zoom in and count exactly how many bricks we needed in each color. The turnaround time for those bricks and blocks wasn’t quick, so if we’d had to order more it would’ve taken weeks to get them.”

Delivering Quality Results on Time

According to Tim, Arisco’s ability to staff and sequence construction activities properly has been especially critical for delivering quality results on time for projects that vary greatly in duration and complexity. He uses the repairs Arisco performed at the Westhills parking structure in Farmington Hills, Michigan, and at Glen Oaks Community College in Centreville, Michigan, to illustrate this point.

“Since the Westhills parking structure had to remain open while we worked, we completed repairs in four phases,” he says. “Each phase had to be done in a week and there were a lot of moving parts—so this was a heavy-labor job just to stay on schedule and accomplish what needed to be done.”

Having the right staff on site at the right time proved crucial for the success of the remedial and reconstruction work Arisco did for Glen Oaks Community College, too—although Tim says the schedule for this multifaceted project spanned more than a year.

“There was a lot of documentation and testing because the main college building had experienced chronic leaks through its green roof,” he recalls. “All our tests had to be passed at 100% without any water penetration. We removed the green-roof materials down to the concrete deck, made the repairs and then installed a new multilayer system with insulation, protection board and a drainage panel covered with landscape fabric and topped with a mix of sand and soil. We also installed a new irrigation system and new copings around the perimeter of the roof and restored the existing handrails.”

The green roof wasn’t the only part of the building that needed repairs to halt and prevent water infiltration. Tim says Arisco also replaced leaky corridor skylights, repaired the structural walls the skylights sat on and restored the front entry tower’s flashing, tuckpointing and coping.

“I trust that Arisco will stay on contract and not try to blindside me with change orders and additional expenses. Everyone who works for them is very qualified, cordial and great to work with.” Kenny Koza, President, Group 10 Management

Maintaining High Standards Yields Repeat Business

Arisco’s high standards for accurate pricing, expert project coordination and management, on-time delivery and quality results have led the firm to consistently win repeat business with clients such as Group 10 Management, a full-service hospitality management and development company based in Southfield, Michigan.

“We’ve been involved in about a dozen hotel projects with Group 10,” Tim says. “One of these, the Residence Inn by Marriott Detroit Farmington Hills, is probably the only hotel that was built completely out of masonry in the last five to 10 years in our region.” He says Arisco constructed the structural walls for this new building out of concrete masonry units (CMUs), clad these walls with a variety of brick and stone veneers, installed the air barrier and waterproofed the facades.

Group 10’s President, Kenny Koza, says he hires Arisco because of the company’s workmanship, attention to detail and ability to manage each job well and meet timelines. “Initially, we used Arisco for joint sealants and that’s how I developed a good working relationship with Tim. As his company grew and metamorphosized into providing more services, we started hiring them to do more. I trust that Arisco will stay on contract and not try to blindside me with change orders and additional expenses. Everyone who works for them is very qualified, cordial and great to work with. In terms of bidding, they are one of the most organized outfits I’ve dealt with. They provide very thorough, very detailed information.”

Kenny says all of these characteristics make a big difference in project outcomes. “We own and manage the buildings we develop, so we think generationally,” he notes. “The minimum standard for our new hotels is 80% masonry. Since the structural component is built from block, we don’t want to gamble on hiring a masonry subcontractor who’s anything less than the best because the success of the building is riding on that subcontractor doing everything correctly.”

Keeping Current

Tim says retaining a leadership role in the masonry segment of the construction industry requires keeping abreast of changes in codes and standards and improvements in products, technology and techniques. Arisco is a certified installer for products made by SMARTci, Balco, Conproco, Miracote and other manufacturers and is a member of professional and community organizations, such as the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) of Metro Detroit, Henry Ford Heritage Association, Michigan Historic Preservation Network and Woodward Avenue Action Association.

“I serve on the board for the Masonry Institute of Michigan (MIM),” Tim adds, “and this helps us learn about new masonry materials, specification details, codes and standards, fire-resistance ratings, sound transmission classes, energy requirements and other aspects of the construction industry related to the services we provide.”

He’s especially optimistic about the upcoming national referendum for the Concrete Masonry Checkoff program. According to information on the advocacy website for this program, manufacturers that produce concrete masonry units (CMUs) that are at least 3 inches wide from dry-cast concrete using a block machine will be required to contribute one penny per CMU to a funding pool. The U.S Department of Commerce will appoint industry-nominated board members to oversee the management of these funds, which will be used to promote the use of concrete masonry products in building and construction.

“We expect the referendum for this checkoff to take place in the first part of 2021,” Tim says. “In addition to supporting education and marketing, some of this money could be used for the construction of a masonry building that otherwise would be stick-built—if an owner applies for a grant from the fund.” A majority of manufacturers producing these specific types of CMUs must vote to approve the checkoff referendum for this program to go into effect.

Always Innovating

“We are always trying to innovate,” Tim says, summing up how he and his team have been able to consistently improve project bidding, coordination and management. These accomplishments have not only kept Arisco’s crews busy year-round, but also earned the loyalty of repeat clients.