AGC NETWORKING PAYS OFF WITH FRAMING CONTRACT
By Mandi Harding
 

AGC networking works, if you work it. Just ask Jerry Nelson owner of Nelson Framing. Nelson had only been in business for himself for five months when he and wife Dee Dee (who works for JMA Architecture, also an AGC member company), decided to splurge and attend AGCâs annual Holiday Dinner Dance and Silent Auction last December 6.
Aside from the immediate benefit of supporting a charity event, mingling with old friends and dancing the night away, the Nelsons walked away with something more valuable than their winning bids for the ãManâs Best Friendä and ãDaddyâs Ballerinaä packages.
The Nelsonâs were assigned dinner seating with Taylor Internationalâs Jim Mason and his wife Gwen. A couple glasses of wine and a porcini dusted, rib eye of beef later, found the two men discussing business.
After learning that Nelson was in the commercial framing business, Mason tipped Nelson off about a Las Vegas Boulevard project breaking ground in late spring and encouraged Nelson to bid the project.
That is how the pieces came together for the redevelopment of the Silver City Plaza now underway. Natives and long-time residents remember the Silver City Casino standing proudly for many years on the Strip, next to mega resorts like the Stardust and the Desert Inn, however, its new owners envisioned a better opportunity.
On the northeast corner of Las Vegas Boulevard and Convention Center Drive, Taylor International and Nelson Framing are erecting from ground up a 32,500-square-foot Ross Department Store. Additionally between the new Ross and the existing Walgreenâs, the two contractors are constructing a 10,000-square-foot structure, which is rumored a new home for a 7-11, Dennyâs, a souvenir shop and a timeshare sales office.
There will be one piece of Las Vegas history that remains upon completion. The Silver City Plaza marquee will remain, integrated as a design feature.
Nelson, whose portion of the projects will be completed by mid-July noted the uniqueness of the design, ãThe Ross Department Store design calls for a hybrid analyzed roof system, steel bar joist 8 foot on center with 2x6 sub purlins,ä Nelson said. ãThis is a little tricky because Ross has many skewed angled walls. And with this particular roof system, one typically assembles it on the floor and then fly it up as one piece. But because the nature of the wall angles we have to set the trusses on-by-one and go back and do fill bays. This type of roof is not the kind of thing just anyone can do, it takes training and specific skills versus what the average carpenter letâs say on a residential project has.ä
Nelson said the second building will be framed out of metal stud and structural steel, as well as wood I-joist and glue lam beams.
Nelson said beyond the challenges of the job itself, that working on the Strip provides a lot of entertainment to the point that at times it is difficult to keep the crews focused on the job at hand.
These projects as with most new construction in the valley are being fast-tracked. Taylorâs Construction Manager Darrell Lefler said the only difficulty with the notion of fast tracking these projects is, ãtrying to build these buildings on the equivalent of a postage stamp.ä
Lefler agreed the project is on time in part, because of the sound relationship with the owners AG-CCR Las Vegas I, LLC. and the strong relationships with their subcontractors.
Another interesting tidbit Lefler shared is this Ross will be the flagship store in the Las Vegas area for a new look and feel.
ãBasically they are upgrading their image with this store, they are going to drop the ãDress for Lessä slogan and go a little higher end. If this idea meets with success in our marketplace, then we will ideally be seeing more Ross Department stores like this one popping up in the valley.ä
Completion for the two building is slated for September 13, and for the Ross department store lover, donât fret there are 180 stalls available for parking directly east of the new structure.
Lefler and Nelson both concur this has been a first good experience working together and look forward to a continued working relationship.
Nelson jokingly added, ãThis is the story of the little guy that goes big.ä