FCC Construction opened a new building after a fire destroyed the previous one in 2016. Courtesy FCC
A local construction company’s trial by fire is nearly complete.
Almost a year ago, FCC Construction, 8182 Broadmoor Ave. SE, Caledonia, went up in flames.
On Aug. 24, the firm will host an open house to show off its new 33,000-square-foot building.
The original 26,000-square-foot structure was destroyed by a fire on Aug. 26, 2016. Only material was lost in the fire and no one was hurt. The lost property was covered by insurance and the addition and improvements were funded by an undisclosed internal investment.
The fire came eight months into 2016, which Director of Construction Dave Lucas said was set to be one of the best years in company history.
Operations didn’t slow during the time without a functioning headquarters, but the new building will provide FCC with a “new and improved facility.”
“We were able to design the facility to include needed upgrades for both employee and customer experience,” Lucas said.
Along with an expanded fabrication shop, the new building includes five overhead cranes, increased ceiling height, additional second floor space for future growth, as well as a dedicated general trades shop and mechanics bay. The building also is equipped with an improved air quality system and fume mitigation system.
The site also includes combined office space, collaboration space, employee and customer café, larger training and conference room, added parking and improved employee break rooms, locker rooms and bathrooms.
The first part of the 2017 was a struggle, Lucas said, as the company worked at 60 percent capacity in its structural steel fabrication business out of a leased space, until FCC moved into the new facility in May. General contracting work has increased throughout the year, including repeat and new clients, Lucas said.
“With the new facility capacity we have been able to increase our (fabrication) production by 20 percent from what our previous facility offered,” he said. “In both areas of our business we are trending toward meeting our yearly goals with potential for a 5 percent increase.”
