PREMIER Design + Build Group broke ground in December on an office addition and renovation for Sumitomo Drive Technologies in Lufkin, Texas.
The project marks the first for PREMIER in the region and the second to work with Sumitomo Drive Technologies, a leading manufacturer of power transmission and motion control solutions.
In September, the team wrapped up a warehouse and office renovation for Sumitomo Drive Technologies in Glendale Heights, Ill. Based on that project–after which Sumitomo Drive Technologies presented Project Superintendent Dan Vanderbiest with an award for performance–the client requested the same building team for the Texas office addition.
“Maintaining the same construction team helps ensure consistent quality and efficiency because the team is already familiar with the project’s unique requirements and challenges,” says Eduardo Plata, Corporate Project Manager for Sumitomo Machinery Corporation of America. “Their established communication, collaboration, and understanding of the project’s goals lead to fewer mistakes, smoother workflows, and quicker problem-solving. This continuity fosters a higher level of trust, accountability, and ultimately, better results.”
The 7,812-square-foot expansion in Texas will more than double Sumitomo Drive Technologies’ current office space and will house individual and open offices, a training room, a break room, restrooms, and conference rooms. The PREMIER team also will renovate the existing bathroom and break room in the adjoining warehouse and add 10 new parking spaces.
“We pride ourselves on our ability to be flexible to changes and to provide solutions and options to our clients,” Vanderbiest says. “Sumitomo Drive Technologies trusts what we’re doing and that we act in their best interest. We go above and beyond as a team in a lot of ways to ensure projects like the addition for Sumitomo Drive Technologies are successful.”
Expanding to New Markets
Though PREMIER is active in the Midwest, Northeast, and Western regions, the office addition is the first for the contractor in Texas. PREMIER finds success in new markets due to its commitment to adaptability and its ability to conduct thorough regional research.
The primary challenge associated with entering a new market is securing contractors that can be trusted to uphold PREMIER’s high construction standards and adapt to its model of exceeding client expectations. To find regional subcontractors for the office expansion, the team conducts research to identify potential quality partners and seeks referrals from trusted sources.
PREMIER also has taken a less conventional approach by contacting top general contractors in the region for subcontractor recommendations, getting to know the local contracting community, and building relationships.
“It’s kind of unconventional because in some ways they’re our competition,” says Joseph Ahrens, Senior Vice President/Midwest Market Leader at PREMIER. “But we explain that we’re not trying to take work, we’re trying to help their trusted subcontractor base get more work–a win-win for everyone.”
Once subcontractor partners are identified, Vanderbiest and the field team conduct in-person interviews with each company to ensure they can uphold PREMIER’s commitment to quality.
The building team also needs to acclimate to environmental factors associated with a new market. Texas is warm, so some processes are simpler than in the Midwest and other cold climates, like pouring concrete and backfilling materials.
Permitting in the Lufkin area is simpler than in markets like the Midwest, which streamlines the project but also comes with difficulties. No permits are required for the office addition, so PREMIER must be certain construction is completed according to local codes, requiring extensive research and due diligence, as well as hiring design consultants familiar with regional codes.
“Though this is east Texas, which is a very different climate and market than we’ve worked in before, Sumitomo Drive Technologies still trusts us because they know how we operate and that it’s our goal to understand their needs and find solutions to any challenges,” Ahrens says.
Construction is expected to be completed on the facility, located at 2612 US-69 in Lufkin, in June 2025.
