A Better Way to Build

Michael R. Adamson

Description

While architects have been the subject of many scholarly studies, we know very little about the companies that built the structures they designed. This book is a study in business history as well as civil engineering and construction management. It details the contributions that Charles J. Pankow, a 1947 graduate of Purdue University, and his firm have made as builders of large, often concrete, commercial structures since the company's foundation in 1963. In particular, it uses selected projects as case studies to analyze and explain how the company innovated at the project level. The company has been recognized as a pioneer in "design-build," a methodology that involves the construction company in the development of structures and substitutes negotiated contracts for the bidding of architects' plans. The Pankow companies also developed automated construction technologies that helped keep projects on time and within budget. The book includes dozens of photographs of buildings under construction from the company's archive and other sources. At the same time, the author analyzes and evaluates the strategic decision making of the firm through 2004, the year in which the founder died. While Charles Pankow figures prominently in the narrative, the book also describes how others within the firm adapted the business so that the company could survive a commercial market that changed significantly as a result of the recession of the 1990s. Extending beyond the scope of most business biographies, this book is a study in industry innovation and the power of corporate culture, as well as the story of one particular company and the individuals who created it.
List of Illustrations

Foreword

Preface

List of Abbreviations

Introduction

Chapter 1: Kiewit Days

Chapter 2: Executing Design-Build, 1963–1971

Chapter 3: Pankow in Hawaii, 1965–1984

Chapter 4: Pankow on the Mainland, 1972–1984

Chapter 5: Reorganization, Growth, and Recession, 1984–1991

Chapter 6: Promoting Design-Build and Funding Concrete Construction Research

Chapter 7: Adapting to Market Change, 1991–2004

Epilogue

Conclusion

Appendix A: Major Projects Completed on the Mainland, 1963–2004, and in Hawaii after the Retirement of George Hutton, 1992–2004

Appendix B: Projects Completed in Hawaii under George Hutton

Appendix C: The Pankow Companies: Innovations, Adaptations, and Tweaks

List of Archival Collections

Notes

Index

Sujets

• Midwest
• Histoire
• State
• United States
• History
• Local

Informations

• Publié par: Purdue University Press
• Date de parution: 15 janvier 2013
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781612492315
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 1 Mo

Extrait

A BETTER WAY TO BUILD
A History of the Pankow Companies
“Charlie Pankow had an important impact on late-twentieth-century building development. His companies created a powerful niche market that kept his clients happy and the enterprise profitable. Pankow’s clients weren’t vainglorious developers seeking to create monuments for themselves. They wanted handsome, lasting buildings, delivered on time and at budget. And that Pankow accomplished time and again. Moreover, Pankow became as much an innovator in the systemic use of concrete as a building material as Gustave Eiffel had been in the late nineteenth century with cast iron.”
—Timothy Tosta, Partner, McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP

“Charles Pankow was an innovator who embraced the design-build concept, and he served as a champion of the approach while restoring the master builder to the commercial building site. He believed the contractor needed the ability to integrate cost- and time-saving construction methods. This book describes the ‘Pankow Way,’ a collaborative approach in which the contractor works effectively with the architects, engineers, and subcontractors to meet owners’ expectations. It is an interesting history of a company and the man who created a unique business culture, and I recommend it as a great read for engineers, architects, contractors, and businesspeople.”
—Patrick J. Natale, Executive Director, American Society of Civil Engineers

“In the history of construction in the second half of the twentieth century, Charles Pankow stands out as the man who led the design-build revolution. Michael Adamson develops a fascinating portrait of a community leader, philanthropist, creative businessman, perceptive art collector, and major figure in the history of civil engineering. Read this book to learn about the visionary after whom the American Society of Civil Engineers recently named its prestigious competition in architectural engineering—and about the ‘renaissance man’ behind the vision.”
—Jeffrey S. Russell, Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Wisconsin
“ Better Way to Build: A History of the Pankow Companies is a story of one man’s vision and the companies he created to carry out that vision. As a young architect I was taught that the general contractor was the opponent of good design. Author Michael Adamson shows how Charlie Pankow turned this idea on its head by reestablishing the historic partnership between design and construction. This is an excellent book for architects, engineers, and contractors. It shows how one visionary was able to turn an entire industry toward a better way of working together. I recommend it most highly.”
—Patrick MacLeamy, CEO, HOK Architects

“This is a great read—anyone and everyone in the architectural, engineering, construction, or development business should read this book. Design-bid-build as a delivery method is broken! Charlie Pankow saw this many years ago with his colleagues at Kiewit. Over forty years ago he embarked on the formation of the design-build/design-assist delivery method for construction. He succeeded in a way that no one could have ever predicted. I am pleased to be able to have the opportunity to review this book and to advise everyone in the industry to read it.”
—Charles H. Thornton, Chairman, Charles H. Thornton & Company LLC

“Michael Adamson chronicles the erratic genius of Charlie Pankow and the construction empire he built in defiance of management conventions. As a ‘Master Builder,’ Charlie believed in people, not management doctrine. He attracted platoons of individualists, self-starters whom he motivated and inspired. He taught them to cut costs and schedules, to develop stunningly innovative construction techniques, and to enervate centuries-old design-build methods, thrusting them onto the world of modern construction. If you want a gripping, bare-knuckled story about a man who successfully changed an industry, you’ve selected the right book.”
—Walker Lee Evey, Former President, Design-Build Institute of America
A BETTER WAY TO BUILD
A History of the Pankow Companies
MICHAEL R. ADAMSON
Purdue University Press West Lafayette, Indiana
Copyright 2013 by Purdue University. All rights reserved.
Printed in the United States of America.
Cover photo: Shoreline Square, Long Beach (Warren Aerial)
Every effort has been made to obtain permission and give credit for photographs used in this book. The photographers and the sources of visual material are indicated in the captions. If there are errors or omissions, please contact Purdue University Press so that corrections can be made in any subsequent edition.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Adamson, Michael R.
A better way to build : a history of the Pankow companies / by Michael R. Adamson. p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-1-55753-634-1 (hardback : alk. paper) ISBN 978-1-61249-230-8 (epdf) -- ISBN 978-1-61249-231-5 (epub) 1. Pankow, Charles. 2. Pankow (Firm)--History. 3. Architects and builders--United States--Biography. 4. Building. I. Title.
TH451.P36A33 2013
338.7’66240973--dc23
2012014132
Contents
List of Illustrations
Foreword
Preface
List of Abbreviations
Introduction
Chapter 1
Kiewit Days
Chapter 2
Executing Design-Build, 1963–1971
Chapter 3
Pankow in Hawaii, 1965–1984
Chapter 4
Pankow on the Mainland, 1972–1984
Chapter 5
Reorganization, Growth, and Recession, 1984–1991
Chapter 6
Promoting Design-Build and Funding Concrete Construction Research
Chapter 7
Adapting to Market Change, 1991–2004
Epilogue
Conclusion
Appendix A
Major Projects Completed on the Mainland, 1963–2004, and in Hawaii after the Retirement of George Hutton, 1992–2004
Appendix B
Projects Completed in Hawaii under George Hutton
Appendix C
The Pankow Companies: Innovations, Adaptations, and Tweaks
List of Archival Collections
Notes
Index
List of Illustrations
Fig. 1. Design-Bid-Build
Fig. 2. Design-Build
Fig. 3. Notre Dame Stadium under construction, 1929–1930
Fig. 4. Workers pour concrete into forms for Notre Dame Stadium stand
Fig. 5. Phi Kappa Phi fraternity, Purdue University, 1947
Fig. 6. American Cement Building under construction, Los Angeles
Fig. 7. Casting yard operations, American Cement Building, Los Angeles
Fig. 8. Shorecliff Tower, Santa Monica, California, nears completion, 1963
Fig. 9. Architect and superintendent, Shorecliff Tower building site
Fig. 10. Hillcrest North Medical Center, San Diego, under construction, 1963
Fig. 11. Precast panel units, Hillcrest North Medical Center
Fig. 12. Los Angeles Music Center under construction, 1963
Fig. 13. Charles Pankow, Inc., founder Charles J. Pankow
Fig. 14. Charles Pankow, Inc., founder Lloyd Loetterle
Fig. 15. Charles Pankow, Inc., founder Robert Carlson
Fig. 16. Charles Pankow, Inc., founder Ralph Tice
Fig. 17. Value of contracts outstanding, 1963–1995
Fig. 18. Office building atop parking deck, MacArthur Broadway Center
Fig. 19. Central Towers, San Francisco, architect’s sketch
Fig. 20. Clementina Towers, San Francisco, under construction
Fig. 21. 1625 The Alameda Building, San José, under construction
Fig. 22. Slipform operation, Joe West Hall, San José City College
Fig. 23. Concrete window frames stacked in on-site casting yard for Joe West Hall
Fig. 24. Charlie Pankow and Harold Henderson in front of Joe West Hall
Fig. 25. Charlie Pankow visits building site at San José State College
Fig. 26. Entrance to the Borel Estate Building, San Mateo, California
Fig. 27. 66 Bovet Road office building, San Mateo, California
Fig. 28. Rear view of Fluor Building, San Mateo, California
Fig. 29. Excavating the James Campbell Building site, Honolulu, March 1966
Fig. 30. James Campbell Building site, 1 July 1966
Fig. 31. “Big Daddy” Bob Crawford on an unidentified building site
Fig. 32. James Campbell Building
Fig. 33. Kauluwela Elderly housing project, with tower crane, Honolulu
Fig. 34. Kauluwela Low-Rise housing project, Honolulu
Fig. 35. The Hobron, Waikiki
Fig. 36. Waikiki Lanais, Waikiki
Fig. 37. Al Fink on the building site for the Pearl Two parking garage, Pearl City, Hawaii
Fig. 38. Jim Thain and Red Metcalf supervise construction, Pearl One parking garage
Fig. 39. Precast concrete elements stacked for use in the Pearl One parking garage
Fig. 40. Flying form operations, Pearl Two condominium
Fig. 41. Slipform operation, Pearl One condominium
Fig. 42. Pearl One condominium nears completion, November 1974
Fig. 43. Red Metcalf collects $25 bet in nickels
Fig. 44. Century Center, Honolulu
Fig. 45. Slipform operation, Executive Centre, Honolulu
Fig. 46. The Esplanade, Hawaii Kai
Fig. 47. George Hutton and Charlie Pankow exchange 20-year awards, 1983
Fig. 48. The Pankow Way
Fig. 49. Dean E. Stephan
Fig. 50. Robert Law and Richard M. Kunnath at the 1981 annual meeting
Fig. 51. Joseph Sanders
Fig. 52. Thomas D. Verti at the 1981 annual meeting
Fig. 53. Dick Walterhouse