Power Design Ramps Up Services to Beat the Competition

Power Design’s revenue has soared along with its increased workload in Miami, including a contract for the Hotel Victor in South Beach.

*Photo Credit: Image Courtesy Power Design Inc.*

Power Design’s numerous South Florida projects include the SLS Lux condo in Miami.

*Photo Credit: Image Courtesy Power Design Inc.*

Also in Miami, the firm is busy with the 62-story, Zaha Hadid-designed 1000 Museum condo.

*Photo Credit: Image Courtesy Power Design Inc.*

Power Design also worked on the recently completed Buckhead Atlanta project.

*Photo Credit: Image Courtesy Power Design Inc.*

Power Design is also working in Nashville, where it is busy with the 33-story SoBro apartment tower.

*Photo Credit: Image Courtesy Power Design Inc.*

Saying Power Design has a "really good response time," Adam Batley, project manager with Pompano Beach-based Current Builders, adds: "They really utilize the advancing construction technology well, and do it better than a lot of specialty contractors."

That reputation for savvy field performance comes from a lot of effort, including a $4-million investment in training during 2014, adds Musolino.

In addition, the firm has undertaken other internal initiatives-including a best-practices program-that aim to enhance on-the-job performance, adds Micallef.

About three years ago, he says, company leaders began to think about expectations for new workers. "We wanted to get to the point where we knew, if we hired you as a superintendent, what really are the expectations?" he says. "We have core values and things we can read to (new) people and have them understand. But once they get out there onto that jobsite, what's their guide?"

So the company built an intranet-based field guide of best practices, covering every possible task that their workers might encounter. Micallef says this enables workers to look up an extensively detailed, flipping book-style description of proper-and improper-procedures, along with links to code references that further explain the reasons behind the methods. While arguably benefiting less-seasoned workers most, Micallef says it has been key to overcoming some longtime field issues.

For instance, in the past, a high percentage of installed telecom outlets in multifamily projects would often end up not aligning perfectly as units neared completion, thus requiring some minor rework. By putting the best practice for installing these items at everyone's fingertips-individual task descriptions can run as much as 30 pages-the results have improved.

"This type of forward thinking and commitment to getting these practices out to the field, and having all of this on our intranet has made a huge difference," Micallef says.

For this type of focus on employees and technologically savvy field performance, ENR Southeast recognizes Power Design Inc. as 2015 Specialty Contractor of the Year.