G2 Builders

G2 Builders (G2) never minds when clients come with high expectations. The community-minded construction management firm has built its reputation upon a client-oriented approach that emphasizes the importance of long-term investments over short-term gains. G2 acknowledges that every employee contributes to the company’s overall success, and the G2 team prides itself on continually challenging one another to seek innovative, cost-effective solutions that guarantee a superior on-time, on-budget end result. G2’s mix of accountability, loyalty and continual improvement has helped the company establish itself as a leading choice for design-build services in its market.

G2’s management team has been building toward the current structure since 1999. Oscar Garcia, president and CEO of G2, partnered up with Jimmy Garcia and Ragu Sada, the company’s current vice presidents, over a decade ago to change the conversation in the construction industry. As the trio saw it, a contractor’s word should be just as binding as any legal document, and it has been this line of thought that shaped the company over the years.

G2 provides end-to-end property development, construction and management services complete with planning, architectural services, engineering, program management, real estate, financing and facility maintenance services in one entity. To deliver on that multifaceted promise, G2 seeks out the most qualified professionals in each specialty to staff its primary locations in Hanover Park, Ill. (outside Chicago), and Austin, Texas. “We look for employees who enjoy the challenge of handling multiple responsibilities, or what I affectionately call ‘hybrid employees,'” adds Oscar.

The company doesn’t just talk the talk, either. G2 has established self-performing masonry, concrete and carpentry divisions since its inception, as well as expanded its reach from the retail/commercial and industrial sectors to healthcare and residential. In addition, G2 pulls from and manages a selection of carefully vetted subcontractors. Taking on accountability and customizing a project plan for each client are at the heart of G2 operations. Of course, pricing concerns loom large across the industry and G2 keeps a tight lid on overhead costs by creating a corporate culture where multitasking is crucial to meeting a client’s needs. G2 can handle all aspects of facility development, from preliminary site evaluations and drawings to final walkthrough and occupancy, allowing the project owner to concentrate on their business.

The approach also sets G2 apart from the competition so clients can turn to G2 for a variety of services and a multidisciplinary perspective for even the smallest of developments, and this consolidated effort toward efficiency has proven invaluable to garner work in the shadow of the country’s recent challenges. “We found a way to really streamline our operations, especially in the wake of the economic downturn,” expands Oscar.

“Even throughout the economic downturn we have managed to grow about 20-percent every year,” adds Oscar. “It’s because we have such a dynamic team that we can maintain a high level of customer service and average between 60- and 70-percent repeat business.”

An Alliance of Experts

The Greater Chicago area accounts for the bulk of G2’s work, though the company’s core project managers have ventured as far away as Las Vegas, Nev., and San Diego, Calif., in the past. Those operations eventually led to the establishment of G2’s office in Austin, which will ultimately help G2 land contracts that bridge the gap between offices and help the company establish itself as the leading contractor in the central region of the U.S.

G2’s portfolio abounds with work in many sectors, including medical facilities, multiple Bikram yoga studios, restaurants, retail centers, offices, public and civil infrastructure and more. More important than the market category, G2 looks for challenging projects where a multidisciplinary approach is the undeniably the preferable approach, as was the case when G2 was hired to build the new headquarters for Kluber Architects & Engineers. G2 oversaw the complete transformation of a 1940s movie theater into a state-of-the-art office space that revitalized the interior and preserved the historic façade. Such undertakings are possible because of the company’s emphasis on open communication to assure concepts turn into innovative, effective structures delivered exactly as expected.

Out of the Pan and into the BBQ

When one of Japan’s largest chain restaurants decided to establish a Chicago outpost, G2 was an obvious contracting choice. Gyu-Kaku currently operates over 800 restaurants in Japan that specialize in Japanese barbeque, and the company already has a select few locations in Hawaii, California and New York City. Chicago, however, presents an entirely new market. Gyu-Kaku’s concept is fairly straightforward for those familiar with Japanese hibachi restaurants, where chefs prepare meals on a flattop grill for an audience of hungry customers, except that yakiniku restaurants like Gyu-Kaku leave the cooking to the customer.

Every table is equipped with a small grill where customers order a selection of grillable delicacies to prepare and enjoy at their own pace. Of course, Gyu-Kaku and G2 wanted to be sure the facility would receive a warm welcome from the crowds in Chicago, so no detail was overlooked throughout the four-story, 10,243-square foot building. G2 outfitted the restaurant with special black-iron ducting at every table, a total of three kitchens and a 100-ton cooling system to maintain an efficient and comfortable environment.

Employing experts in every facet of construction, from drawings to custom millwork, G2 delivers integrated solutions with integrity, establishing invaluable relationships along the way. It’s anybody’s guess where G2 will find the next phase of opportunity, but the G2 team of architects, skilled craftsmen and experienced project managers is confident its design-build abilities and exacting safety standards will be up to par with even the highest expectations. Regardless of where the team finds the next project, the company’s multidisciplinary approach and reputation for delivering a product that pleases – not just appeases – clients will ensure G2 Builders makes every project the best it can be.