When you think of the construction industry, your mind tends to automatically think of men in construction hats out in the field swinging hammers, doesn’t it? But in the field and behind the scenes, there are many women in this industry that are helping to make these projects come to fruition. In honor of National Women in Construction Week, we sat down with some of the women in our office and asked them a few questions.

Since 1988, Legends Steakhouse and the Brass Lantern have been serving high quality, made-from-scratch dishes across Middle Tennessee and Northern Alabama. They have an ongoing commitment to excellent service and exceptional quality. When Legends approached Brindley Construction with the opportunity to renovate their restaurant in Columbia, Tennessee, we knew this was a perfect match. The project began March 2020, with a complete demolition of the interior of the building. Upgrades include the installation of all new woodwork, wainscoting, flooring, and bar area, as well as a complete renovation of the kitchen and restrooms. The exterior of the building features stacked stone columns, exterior insulation and finish systems, and new paint. The entrance to the restaurant was relocated and the exterior upgrades included new paving, sidewalks, and landscaping. The architectural drawings, provided by George Nuber, really led this project.

Brindley crews recently constructed a new break room and administrative offices for Clayton Cavalier Homes, a modular mobile home manufacturing company in Addison, Alabama. The new break room was constructed on the front of the plant and consists of 10,500 square feet of finished café and dining room space and 2,300 square feet of covered patio. Employees can now enjoy a rustic dining and gathering space complete with a large conference room, four administrative offices, new restrooms, a fully-furnished commercial kitchen fitted with stainless steel appliances, and outdoor seating.

There are many factors that influence the cost of construction. Some are obvious: land acquisition, permits and construction costs. Then there are the future costs or life-cycle costs to consider: maintenance, repair, replacement—the cost of keeping the facility and its systems up and running. One of the most effective ways to control construction costs is to establish early involvement on behalf of the owner AND the contractor. This may seem obvious, but under the traditional method of construction delivery, the owner commissions an architect or engineer to prepare drawings and specifications, then separately selects a contractor by negotiation or competitive bidding at a later stage in the project’s development. This can present a number of problems for the owner Can the design be built for the budget and within the desired timeframe? If the project needs to go back to the drawing board, how much time will be lost? What if the architect and contractor disagree? How many contracts need to be managed by the owner?

What business wouldn’t choose a building process that offers opportunities to save money, to reduce construction time, to allow customization, to optimize quality, and to streamline the entire experience? No hands raised in the audience? That comes as no surprise to all of us at Brindley Construction. We’ve worked with hundreds of clients since 1960, and those are key advantages that every one of our clients has valued. Today, we’re pleased to be regarded as an expert in a process loaded with many intrinsic benefits. Known as “Design-Build,” its cost efficiency, time savings, and collaborative nature have made it popular among clients for everything from commercial and municipal buildings to sports facilities, churches, manufacturing plants, medical facilities, and more.