In the hallways and at construction sites of RNGD, the adjective “relentless” is commonly heard.

“It’s in how we describe ourselves, our methods, our style. Seriously, it’s everywhere. But we live it every day, from early mornings on site to rolling out new plans in the office,” says Wesley J. Palmisano, founder and CEO of the New Orleans-based contractor. “[Being] relentless fuels our original crazy idea: to elevate the construction industry by challenging industry norms and changing the status quo.”

For more than a decade, the company’s goals and benchmarks have fed into that pursuit. Along the way, RNGD has celebrated wins, confronted challenges, learned lessons and steadily expanded on what the company and its employees are capable of, he says.

That relentless drive has resulted in a nearly 30% increase in revenue, from $195 million in 2022 to $262 million in 2023, according to company figures. It ranks at No. 45 on this year’s Texas & Louisiana Top Contractors ranking, with $241.4 million in regional revenue. Last year, RNGD earned a Best Project award from ENR Texas & Louisiana in the renovation/restoration category and the overall Project of the Year award for its restoration of a former New Orleans courthouse into the Carrollton senior-living facility. That project is an example of RNGD’s expertise in historic renovation, preservation and repurposing, but the firm also performs work in infrastructure, industrial, mixed use, steel fabrication and erection and multifamily residential. For its breadth of work and business performance, RNGD has been named ENR Texas & Louisiana’s Contractor of the Year.

The H3C development is located on the site of a parking lot at a former dairy processing plant in New Orleans.
Photo courtesy RNGD

Persistent Innovation

At the core of the RNGD team is the desire to revolutionize how it builds.

“We want to serve as a catalyst for innovation, in partnership with others, and to be part of a larger movement to improve the way projects are delivered,” Palmisano says. “Our goal is to help move the industry forward incrementally with each project we undertake by incorporating a unique idea or novel approach.”

Perhaps the best example of one project showcasing people and process innovation is H3C, a $32-million affordable housing and health care development in New Orleans. The 210,000-sq-ft, three-building development has 192 one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, constructed to national green building standards. Ninety-two of those are reserved for seniors 55 and older, with elements of design that enable aging in place, according to the company. Construction started in January 2023 and finished 13 months later.

The H3C development, located on the site of a parking lot at a former dairy processing plant, takes its name from the prioritization of health merged with the ongoing revitalization of the Oretha Castle Haley Boulevard corridor, which has long been known locally for its culture, commerce and community.

A showcase of RNGD’s vertical integration credentials, the project made use of the firm’s in-house infrastructure and prefabrication expertise. Infrastructure provided the essential services below the surface through earthwork and site preparation, along with all site utilities and tie-ins with city infrastructure.

“Our steel team contributed to the building’s visible aspects and residential flow with structural bridges, stairs and elevators. RNGD also fabricated all handrails for five sets of internal wood stairs,” the company says. In the lobby area, RNGD’s custom architectural fabrication team designed, fabricated and installed maple woodwork panels and integrated seating. In total, the weight of materials, including structural and miscellaneous components, amounted to 200 tons.

H3C is the first Fitwel-certified development in Louisiana. Originally created by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and U.S. General Services Administration, Fitwel is a real estate certification platform that guides building design and operations to improve the lives of occupants and local communities, the company says.

The 210,000-sq-ft, three-building H3C development, which was built to green building standards, features 192 one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments.
Photo courtesy RNGD

H3C also includes 12,600 sq ft of commercial and community space anchored by a federally qualified health center operated by DePaul Community Health Centers, one of the largest community health networks in Louisiana. Its Central City Clinic provides adult and pediatric medical and behavioral health care services, has an onsite pharmacy and offers Medicaid enrollment assistance.

Another innovative project was the Carrollton, an upscale retirement residence. In leading the multi-phase project, the RNGD team expertly wove essential components of historic renovation into new construction. The nearly abandoned former courthouse site had to be cleared and rehabilitated, with demolition including a surprise vulture eviction.

Coordinating historical renovation required using new methods to address issues of an old building—and with one structure built 170 years ago, it also meant patience. Clay parapet tiles from the roof were remade to replicate original tiles that had cracked. Windows were reproduced to the exact original design, and plaster cracks were identified, repaired and painted. More than 60 lintels had to be installed to replaced damaged brick above windows and doorways.

Company crews were also tasked to align the three-story new construction height with the historic building. The two-story courthouse was constructed with large wood planks, creating massive ceiling height, the company says. Budget constraints required holding back on a plan to meet that same height. Instead, RNGD experts found a way to elevate flow by building ramps, which became a practical adjustment for residents in wheelchairs.

In December, RNGD kicked off construction of the $6.1-million DeSaix Bridge demolition and rebuild project in New Orleans.
Photo courtesy RNGD

Complementing the historic renovation are two wings of new construction with 73 assisted-living units, 20 memory-care units and supporting structures. The $28.5-million renovation began in May 2020 and was completed in February 2023.

Buddy Henley, 2024 national chair of the Associated Builders and Contractors, said in an announcement that the project is “the pinnacle of quality, safety and innovation ... showcasing the incredible structures and teams at RNGD that build the best of the best in merit shop construction.”

RNGD has also met challenges in its infrastructure work, such as in the $6.1-million DeSaix Boulevard Bridge demolition and rebuild project over Bayou St. John in New Orleans that began last December. Set for completion in October, it involves relocation of power lines, complete demolition of the old bridge and addition of new concrete pilings, a bridge deck, lighting, ADA-accessible sidewalk ramps and a protected pedestrian lane.

The cornerstone of this waterway work is replacement of old timber piles with resilient prestressed concrete ones. This upgrade is intended to deliver longevity and reduced maintenance with a more durable foundation, says the firm. The shift from steel diaphragms to prestressed concrete decks will boost reliability and safety for commuters and pedestrians.

The RNGD team’s responsibilities extended beyond construction to orchestrating the delicate demolition of the old structure and relocation of electrical elements. Crews meticulously dismantled the bridge, ensuring minimal disruption to the surrounding environment and community. Directional drilling beneath Bayou St. John remedied connectivity issues, while the installation of electrical conduits and concrete duct banks fortified the local pump station’s infrastructure.

The transformation of a former New Orleans courthouse into a senior residence earned RNGD the Project of the Year award in 2023 from ENR Texas & Louisiana.
Photo courtesy RNGD

Led by a Floor Sweeper

As a third-generation commercial general contractor, CEO Palmisano founded the company in 2013, putting his entrepreneurial mindset to work in an industry used to traditions. Instead of looking to the conventions of the past for guidance, he says he “draws inspiration from innovators within our industry as well as from other industries such as automotive manufacturing and shipbuilding. Both have developed an efficient, vertically integrated assembly process that we can all learn from and emulate.”

Also, he explains, RNGD does not have a rigid chain of command. “My official job title—founder, CEO and floor sweeper—is a reflection of our core belief that no one is above any task. It doesn’t matter how long you’ve been here or what your title is, because we’re all here to achieve an outcome, and we all have a role to play.”

RNGD keeps pushing forward, announcing a recent company move to suburban Jefferson Parish in a $25-million expansion that consolidated its Southeast manufacturing operations and created a training center and corporate headquarters as part of an aggressive growth strategy, the company says.

“RNGD is a prime example of the innovation that is transforming long-standing economic drivers like construction and manufacturing,” said Susan B. Bourgeois, Louisiana Economic Development secretary, in an announcement.

The company also believes in giving back. New Orleans, which has one of the nation’s highest poverty rates, has often been the beneficiary of RNGD philanthropy. Through the Palmisano Foundation, the firm’s 501(c)(3) organization, RNGD has participated in, hosted or donated to a variety of nonprofit and charitable events and organizations. These include Renegade Fest—the annual fundraiser music festival that raised $116,000 in 2023—as well as Junior Achievement, unCommon Construction, Son of a Saint, Raintree Services, New Orleans Women and Children’s Shelter, New Orleans Career Center and Fore!Kids Foundation.

The foundation also awarded 17 scholarships to high school students in construction sector curriculum pathways, donating more than $240,000 in 2023, according to RNGD.