Case Studies Region: Southwest

After Jeff Dunn joined Nothing Bundt Cakes in 2021, he decided to make some changes. Dunn, who ultimately rose to senior director of construction and design at the Texas-based bundt cake baking company, thought the company’s design strategy and construction schedule could be more efficient. “When I started, I was a team of one,” he […]

One of George Strait’s hit songs will soon take on a different meaning. “I’ve got some oceanfront property in Arizona / From my front porch you can see the sea,” he sang sarcastically, adding, “If you buy that, I’ll throw the Golden Gate in free.” Well, later next year, if Strait comes to Mesa, he […]

Owners of Choice Hotels Int. brands along the Gulf Coast should expect to see a lot of Jim Alty—although he may never be staying in one of the new rooms. “I like to joke with owners that the day they see their first guest is when I vaporize,” says Alty, the company’s project manager, construction […]

Each time Jim Fay helps Brinker International open a new Chili’s restaurant site, the average cost at the moment is close to $4 million as a result of inflation. In 2019, the cost was just over $2 million. While this may seem astronomical to the layman, working with this type of budget is typical for […]

For more than 40 years, Green Country Interiors has provided Oklahoma’s largest commercial contractors with services including exterior and interior framing, drywall, acoustical ceilings, exterior insulation and finish systems, stucco and plaster. But for Green Country’s employees, the work is more than just a job; it’s like hanging out with extended family. “We have employees […]

Call it “A Tale of Two Theaters.” No, it’s not a Hollywood blockbuster with a cast of thousands and computer-generated graphics to stun and thrill moviegoers, or an arthouse indie flick about rival playwrights. Rather, it’s the story of how Cinépolis Luxury Cinemas and Julian Ortiz are making going to the movies a luxurious experience—while […]

How many facilities directors are greeted by students with a hug and kind words? Jerry Wood can’t say but he knows he’s one of the lucky few. Of course, Wood, who directs facilities for the Vail Unified School District in Tucson, Arizona, also taught these students and served as their principal. In December 2017, Wood, […]

When Jim Rubach retired 11 years ago, he envisioned days spent fishing, golfing and renovating old cars and tractors. But, only a few months later, he was called back to Dickinson Independent School District, where he’s now worked for 43 years. The Texas-based district needed his help connecting with vendors he knew best. “It’s a […]

Don’t worry, they’re not breaking up the band at Chuck E. Cheese. A forerunner in using animatronics for entertainment, Chuck E. Cheese has been a birthday party destination for so long that grandparents are enjoying the shows again anew. However, as the iconic band of Chuck E. Cheese, Helen Henny, Jasper T. Jowls and Mr. […]

There are many ways to prepare for the unexpected, and Jacob Linhart has made them part of his job as market director of facilities operations and construction for the Carondelet Health Network. Linhart won’t claim he foresaw the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic in spring 2020. However, his background in construction, heating, ventilation and air […]