In its 80th year of operation in the New York region, Rochester-based LeChase Construction is hardly slowing down. The company surpassed the $1 billion mark in global revenue for the first time last year, with $889.8 million generated in the state and New Jersey.
This increase represents consistent growth from its 2022 regional revenue of $803.9 million and total of $643.9 million in 2021. With this latest milestone, LeChase moved up a notch in the ranking of top regional contractors this year to number 9.
“We like controlled growth,” explains Bill Goodrich, CEO of LeChase. He notes that over the past decade, that rate has probably been 5% to 10% annually, versus more significant annual gains, which have never been the focus of the company’s strategy.
“What we want to do is grow market shares where we do business by building relationships and partnerships in the markets we serve, and it takes time to do that the right way,” Goodrich says.
These cultivated relationships have been key to the continued growth trajectory in 2024 for the company and the 850 employees who serve its customer base.
“LeChase is in the long game when it comes to building relationships, especially in this industry where things can be a little daunting,” adds Kailly Mintel, project executive at LeChase, who led the recent expansion of the Strong National Museum of Play. in Rochester. “Collaboration is key to our success, and we don’t underestimate the role of our partners in that.”
Regular and core clients make up over 70% of LeChase’s portfolio, with the remainder tied to new opportunities and clients, so nurturing and growing new and established connections is vital.
“It really comes down to our culture of doing the right thing, building partnerships, delivering excellence, and you have to have the right people to be able to do that,” Goodrich notes. “I think we have the best in the business.”
A new outdoor play area at the Strong National Museum of Play features life-sized items from Hasbro games.
Photo by Kim Smith Photography
LeChase Construction’s top projects in 2023
Strong National Museum of Play expansion and renovation, Rochester, New York
This multi-phase project, completed in 2023, added a number of interactive elements and amenities to the museum’s narrow urban campus, including a 330,000-square-meter parking garage with a colorful facade, a 90,000-square-meter expansion, and a parking lot of 36,000 square meters. ft outdoor public square.
United Health Services, Wilson Medical Center Modernization and Expansion, Johnson City, New York
LeChase recently completed the first expansion at Wilson Medical Center in more than 30 years. Its scope includes a new 183,000 square meter clinical tower with four inpatient medical/surgical units, a new emergency department, an MRI suite and a rooftop heliport. Prefabrication was used extensively, saving nearly $1.8 million and more than 38,000 hours of on-site labor, according to the company.
Cornell University Ann S. Bowers College of Computing and Information Science Building, Ithaca, New York
Currently under construction, this 135,000 square meter L-shaped building consists of two four-story wings and will connect to the adjacent Gates Hall. Cantilevered upper floors, creating a covered terrace on the ground floor. The project includes cross-laminated timber and will be completed in 2025.
diversified
With eight offices in New York and New Jersey, LeChase’s presence in the region is extensive. Its Rochester headquarters alone has more than 400 employees. The firm also has two locations in North Carolina.
Selective acquisitions have helped LeChase expand its reach. The most recent of these, completed in 2022, was by Albany, New York-based Sano-Rubin Construction Services, a family-owned company with more than 100 years of experience that expands LeChase’s presence in this geography.
“What it allows us to do is be flexible and really focus on the job opportunities in those markets,” Goodrich explains.
“LeChase is in it for the long game when it comes to building relationships, especially in this industry where things can be a little cut and dry.”
—Kailly Mintel, Project Executive, LeChase Construction
In terms of specific markets, LeChase sees growing opportunities in affordable housing, life sciences, higher education and healthcare. “There are also big things happening” with the construction of chip manufacturing plants in New York state, funded by the federal CHIPS and Science Act, Goodrich adds. The contractor sees no slowdown in the markets it operates in, which also include commercial, K-12 and industrial/manufacturing, except where rising interest rates are having the biggest impact.
“The market remains strong and we are optimistic about the future,” he continues. While challenges related to labor shortages and supply chain issues have been inevitable, LeChase teams have helped mitigate them by leaning heavily on their partnerships and planning as much as possible. possible, adds Mintel.
LeChase’s diversification, both in markets and geographies, has allowed the company to shift resources when a market slows, allowing the company to successfully navigate through any change in the economic landscape.
“Having that early planning has become increasingly important today, especially with supply chain issues and escalating prices across the country, not just in our region,” adds Goodrich, noting that the preconstruction department LeChase’s dynamic uses more than historical data to determine price. Instead, his team breaks down costs to understand risks and how to mitigate them, which has become a major differentiator, he says.
“We have just awarded a project [valued at] about $135 million in New York State [with] fierce competition,” notes Goodrich. “The client said, ‘Your competition was tough and this was a very difficult decision. But your preconstruction team made the difference for us.’
LeChase’s executive team, from left: Will Mack, president; Wayne LeChase, President; Bill Goodrich, CEO and Managing Partner; and Kyle Sayers, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer.
Photo courtesy of LeChase Construction
Coordinated work
LeChase completes more than 300 projects across the region annually, ranging in size from $5,000 to over $1 billion in total value.
“One thing about our business is that it’s tangible, so you can finish a project and bring your family or friends to see it and say ‘we played a part in that,'” Goodrich says.
Hospital work accounts for around 25% of the company’s overall revenue. One of the largest health care projects LeChase teams have completed this year is the modernization and expansion of Wilson Medical Center in Johnson City, NY, for United Health Services Inc., a $175 million project that is the largest in the history of the health care provider.
“LeChase understands what we are trying to achieve with each project.”
—John Carrigg, President and CEO of United Health Services Inc.
The relationship between LeChase and LeChase spans more than 15 years, and the contractor has managed the construction of some of the healthcare company’s largest expansion and modernization projects, says John Carrigg, president and CEO of United Health Services.
“I would say that the relationship is characterized by trust, by communication, by integrity, and these are the factors that we take into account when we choose a partner, especially for this last project”, explains Carrigg, adding that the project of Wilson Hospital will include a new emergency department, trauma center, main lobby and helipad.
“LeChase understands what we’re trying to achieve with each project,” he says, noting that the contractor “is willing to work very closely with us and our internal teams to make things happen.”
Carrigg stresses that the construction of a new building on a hospital campus cannot be done in isolation and must be coordinated with other active services. LeChase “has always understood the importance of these things and how we need to minimize the impact on our existing operation,” he says.
Foundation and slab work is progressing on the $650 million, 750,000-square-foot Fairlife production facility for The Coca-Cola Co. in Webster, NY. Construction began in April, with completion expected by the end of 2025.
Photo by Gene Avallone
People first
“Every company has a culture. It’s either by default or deliberate. We choose to be deliberate,” says Goodrich, who is also a strong advocate of servant leadership at LeChase.
He emphasizes that the company “wants to be the place where people want to work” and to attract customers. Also, “we want it to be dynamic,” says Goodrich. “We’re in a very difficult business, tough at times. So we have to work together, we have to have a team and we like to call it One LeChase.”
The company’s culture is unique compared to much of the construction industry, says Mintel, who joined the company in 2018. “When I was looking for a job here in Rochester, I asked around and actually LeChase had the best reputation. according to everyone I talked to, and they didn’t steer me wrong,” he says. “The culture here definitely speaks for itself.”
It points to the company’s commitment to the personal, professional and professional growth of employees, which contributes to LeChase’s overall success. “There’s a huge emphasis on personal relationships and also on community relationships,” says Mintel. “So it’s really satisfying because it’s not just about business.”
By fostering professional development training, honing management skills, improving communication, building relationships and more, LeChase takes a holistic approach to employee growth. This has helped improve recruiting efforts, as well as employee retention and motivation, Goodrich says.
“I think the investment in our people and culture has paid dividends,” he continues. “The programs we’ve created and the internal promotions and opportunities for growth—the sky’s the limit at LeChase Construction.”
