Staying on Top of Things

If there is one thing we've learned in our experience it is that paying attention to details while not losing the big picture will save your project (and you) every time.

Take for instance our recent experience with the Marshall's store in the Eastchase Market Place in Fort Worth, Texas.  By keeping up with the client's requirements on a daily basis, we were able to meet their deadlines for an on-time store opening.

"Scott Leach and Dean Nettles of our staff were involved in this project from Day 1," Dave Sykes said. "And they continued to monitor all of the work daily until we were able to turn over the property to the tenant."

Dave is CEO of DSKW & Associates, a design-build firm based in Carrollton, Texas.  They were the general contractor on the project. Scott and Dean are employees of DSKW.

The work of subcontractors was ordered and monitored, punch lists created and fulfilled and general oversight of the job was done both at the job sight and remotely.  No detail was overlooked from demolition to installations to final painting.

"Dean and Scott have done an outstanding job on the store," Tammy Cottino said. "Their commitment to turning over a quality project on time has allowed the building of this store to be completed in a seamless manner."

Tammy is the project manager for TJX Companies, the parent company of Marshall's Department Stores.

"They were both very quick to respond to questions and the needs of TJX.  Both Scott and Dean were pro-active with communications which helped us overcome some of the challenges we ran into," Tammy continued.  "The quality of work, and their attention to detail has enabled this store to move quickly and has left us with a very small punchlist to be completed."

"We're proud of the work we've done for TJX, Dave Sykes said. "And of Scott and Dean."

For more information you can contact Dave, Scott, Dean or any of the DSKW team at 214-710-1298.

The Builder

The Rebounding Economy

Change is in the air.  That sound you hear is the loosening of purse strings and the flow of financing dollars.

"We recently learned from one of our long-term clients in the restaurant industry that they had received their funding," Dave Sykes told us. "When franchisees get funded, that indicates, at least to us, that people are willing to invest and that the economy is turning back to a positive trend," he said.

Dave is CEO of DSKW & Associates, a full-service design-build firm based in Dallas, Texas. They see first hand the impact of money in the economy.

"Construction is historically a lagging indicator of growth," Dave continued."So when you see dollars being spent on design and construction, it indicates that their is confidence enough in the rest of the economy."

While nationwide, the numbers are otherwise, here in Texas, this direct witnessing of movement is an indicator that the local and regional economy is gaining strength.

You can contact Dave at DSKW & Associates at 214-710-1298.

The Builder

Dreaming, Design and Practicality

"If you build it, he will come."

So goes the line from "Field of Dreams."  Ray built the baseball field in in his corn field because he had a dream.  While the dream changed a few times, the idea it sprang from stayed the same.

All ideas really do come from dreams.  So it is with building and architecture.  before any building can take shape, can be fashioned from brick and mortar or wood framing and drywall, it has to be dreamed--thought up.

"Most of our clients come to us with a vision, a 'dream' of a structure they want," Kevin Wallace said. "And if it isn't complete, we help them finish the dream," he said.

Kevin is a partner in DSKW & Associates, a full-service design-build firm based in North Texas. Kevin is the resident architect at the firm.

"Whether it is a factory, office building, shopping center or new residence, they all begin as a dream," Kevin continued.  "We have the luxury at our firm to work with clients in any of a number of phases," Kevin continued. "Sometimes we send them back to the 'dream' stage if the idea isn't quite solid enough to be drawn or conceptualized.  In that way, Dave and I have a lot of flexibility when it comes to helping clients."

Dave is Dave Sykes, CEO of DSKW & Associates, and a veteran of the construction and building world in Texas and the Southwest U.S.

"At the end of the day, however," Dave said,"it still has to be built. We will tell a client how it can be built, in what time and for what cost."

Kevin recalled a client who had a vision for a theatre he wanted to renovate.  The concept got to a point where it could be a real construction project, but it lacked something.  Dave pitched the project back to Kevin.

"I play the role of 'dream catcher'," Kevin related.  "Dave's the analyst who helps us keep our feet on the ground and I'm the one reaching for the clouds with the client. It's a good balance."

Dreams and reality are not that exclusive to one another in the world of architecture and building.  Just be sure and have that team that balances both on your side.

The Dreamer

Building Your Community with Service

In this space our topics usually are related to the actual desing and construction of our communities.  At the same time, spaces without heart or the warmth of the people who inhabit them are just that--spaces.

Building one's community takes more than brick and mortar and useful designs on paper.  It also takes action to build a community.

Recently our DSKW team visited our adopted elementary school, Tom C. Gooch Elementary School in the Dallas Independent School District (DISD) for a day of voluntarily reading to students.  Our day at the school was led by our senior project manager, Sandy Watson.

"The principal of Gooch, Karina De Los Reyes, invited us to come and read to the Pre-K through third-grade kids," Sandy told us. "On a regular basis community volunteer adults come into the school to read and interact with the kids," she said.

The book read by the volunteers on this day was Dr Seuss' "The Lorax" on the occasion of Theodore Geisel's 108th birthday.

"Not only was it fun to see the looks on the kids' faces and hear their reactions," Sandy continued, "but to see and hear the adults' responses and feel their joy was amazing."

Gooch Elementary was adopted by Sandy during her stint as "Principal for a Day" in the fall of 2011.  Sandy, a former career public school educator and administrator, because of her experience with the building trades, has advised Ms. De Los Reyes on a number of issues relating to the school building itself.

"We try and help with volunteer labor and materials whenever we can," Sandy said. "Recently the outdoor picnic tables needed repair, so we sent over a crew with replacement boards and hardware to make the fixes at our expense."

Building a strong community takes many forms.  Sometimes it involves a Lorax.

The Builder

Road Construction Leads the Way for Growth

Not only do roads help us find our way between and within our cities, they also spur and sustain growth in those same cities.

"Where ever a new road project springs up, retail and commercial growth follow," Dave Sykes told us recently.  Dave is the CEO of DSKW & Associates of Dallas, the leading design/build firm in North Texas.

"For example, the largest single road project in the United States is just down LBJ from us near the DFW Airport," Dave continued.  The DFW Connector project is worth billions and will change the face of the area around the North entrance of the airport as well as enhance growth in the highways 114 and 121 area.

"This single project will change how traffic moves in the area," Dave said," as well as change how businesses in the immediate and close-by areas do business.  Retail, commercial offices and warehousing is all set to explode around Grapevine, Coppell and Valley Ranch."

Of the 10 major road projects in the United States ongoing now, more than half are in Texas.  This is a testimony to the growth and vibrancy of the area.  And, as Dave said, it will spur more growth in the area adjacent to the project.

To contact Dave or any member of his team at DSKW & Associates, call 214-710-1298.

The Dreamer