Dacon Corporation

Since 1985, Dacon Corporation (Dacon) has provided fully integrated design, engineering and construction as a trusted, single-source-stop for solutions to the most challenging corporate facilities. “Many companies claim to be design-build, but we truly are in the sense that we have in-house architects, engineers, project planners and estimators ready to take a project from back-of-the-napkin through schematic design, engineering, permitting, construction and post construction warrantees,” reveals Chuck Reilly, vice president and director of business development for Dacon.

Dacon has been building success, one project at-a-time for 28 years since its founding by Richard Kuchinsky. Richard established Dacon on the principle that construction management and architecture are mutually dependent and enhance value through integration. He set out to address a common concern from corporate clients -that architecture and construction performed by separate entities result in uncertainty and a long, drawn-out process.

Today, Dacon is based in Natick, Mass., and serves corporate clients throughout New England. “85 to 90 percent of our work is New England-based,” notes Chuck. “We specialize in commercial projects in manufacturing, industrial, office and health care sectors. We don’t enter the residential market.”

Under One Roof

Chuck says the company’s corporate, commercial niche has worked well for Dacon over the year. “We have about 40 employees, including five in-house architects and five CAD-certified professionals,” he reveals. “Our architects integrate all steps of design and we’re committed to this philosophy. The design-build approach has been our advantage in times of economic trouble.”

“Dacon’s design-build capabilities allow us to identify project costs early and let us design to strict corporate requirements,” continues Chuck. “There’s no coming in off budget late in the game and no extra money spent on architectural plans.”

Dacon delivers fully integrated design, engineering and construction for large-scale corporate clients and developers. “Anything ground-up, built-to-suit is our bread and butter,” reveals Chuck. “That’s our specialty and where we believe we bring the most value.”

With expert project management that delivers value, Dacon relies on a network of about 2,500 trusted subcontractors. “We have at least four or five subcontractors per-trade to select from,” notes Chuck. “We try to spread the work around but they have to be cost competitive.”

Building to Precise Corporate Requirements

Dacon’s in-house capacity has made the company a trusted name in the corporate world. “We recently completed a 70,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art training and research facility expansion for DePuy Orthopeaedics at the company’s Raynham Woods Commerce Center,” shares Chuck.

Dacon has also worked with the renowned Swiss candy company, Lindt & Sprüngli Inc. (USA) (Lindt). The industry giant contracted Dacon for a design-build of its North American manufacturing facility in Stratham, N.H. The 40,000-square-foot facility required installation of Lindt’s unique chocolate liquor processing equipment, as well as, mechanical electrical and plumbing systems; all of which Dacon completed in just 10 months.

Dacon’s efficient and effective project management lead Lindt to choose the commercial contractor for another two projects, first a 90,990-square-foot expansion of the goods packaging facility and second a 270,000-square-foot warehouse and distribution building with precise temperature and humidity controls.

“We’ve also worked with Bristol-Myers Squibb,” reveals Chuck. “We added an extra 200,000 square feet to an existing 400,000-square-foot facility. And we’re about to break ground on an $8 million, 80,000-square-foot factory and office space for Crown Uniform & Linen Service in Brockton, Mass.”

Chuck says its Dacon’s longevity and market recognition from developers and corporate clients that’s helped the company establish itself as the single-source-solution. “Although our specialty, ground-up construction, has slowed down as a result of the recession, we’re starting to see things pick back up and we have a good portion of the market share,” he claims. “We have a 65 percent rate of repeat business and multiple projects with our clients, especially on the corporate level. Once we nail one project; more line up to follow.”

Chuck admits the process of winning repeat jobs is quite gratifying. “I get a little kick out of winning a big job -it’s good to be the last one standing when you’re competing with six other companies.”

Staying on top of the industry also means staying in touch and for that, Dacon turns to its affiliation with The Commercial Real Estate Development Association (NAIOP) of Massachusetts. “We’ve been a NAIOP member for about 20 years,” reveals Chuck. “NAIOP assists us with networking, industry information, market forecasts and vendor referrals -they really work for us.”

For 28 years, Dacon Corporation’s experienced team has remained well connected throughout New England, delivering comprehensive design, engineering and construction as a single-source-solution.