Since 2002, specialist plumbing and HVAC contractor MTech Mechanical has gradually but steadily diversified the range of projects it undertakes. Headquartered in Westminster, north of Denver, the company has added Colorado locations in Eagle, Loveland and Colorado Springs. Revenue growth has followed suit, with revenue rising to just over $200 million in 2023 from $154.8 million in 2021. Despite its focus on growth, the employee-owned company has maintained its commitment to employee and workforce development and community service.
“We’ve tried to be intentional in our growth and diversify our offerings, and that’s been really key to our expansion and revenue growth,” says MTech COO John Falzone.
Falzone says the recent growth comes in part from the rise of its services and special projects divisions. The services division offers comprehensive maintenance, repair and reconditioning of mechanical systems, while special projects focus on improving end-user tenants and smaller scale commercial facilities.
“Five years ago, we were probably 50/50 large construction versus special projects and service. Based on geographic growth focused on our special projects/service offerings, 35% to 40% of our annual revenue is attributable to current major builds,” says Falzone.
The most recent addition to the company’s offering is MTech’s energy unit, launched in 2023. The division specializes in energy-efficient retrofits, renewable generation and building envelope improvements. MTech president Marco Capitelli says the move was an effort to address the emerging needs of homeowners.
“The state of Colorado and the city of Denver have a lot of energy initiatives, and we wanted to respond to that need,” he says. “It aligns well with our technical and design capabilities, and with more cities and states looking for more electrification, I think our timing was right.”
Among the latest all-electric projects MTech has been a part of is the recently completed 1900 Lawrence office tower in downtown Denver. Designed by Chicago-based Goettsch Partners, MTech joined general contractor Hensel Phelps for the design-build delivery of the $400 million, 30-story Class A office tower that was completed in May. The project achieved LEED Gold certification in addition to WELL Platinum certifications and follows the City of Denver’s electric building initiatives. MTech designed the 100% energy recovery ventilation, water source heat pump systems and VRF heating and cooling system.
According to Falzone, the company has become known for challenging and technical projects. He cited a current project, the US Geological Survey’s Energy and Minerals Research Building at the Colorado School of Mines. The 190,000-square-foot building will house several laboratory spaces for USGS researchers and CSM faculty and students. “It has a very complex mechanical system that has specialized systems,” he says. “In the last 10 years, we’ve done a lot of lab projects, and they’re getting more and more complex.”
Last year, the company completed the 77,000 square meter CLIMB development and production facility with demanding laboratory space for Umoja Biopharma Inc. in Louisville, Colorado.
MTech’s Energy Division installed chilled water piping in the 1900 Lawrence Office Building in Denver. A key part of the all-electric HVAC system is the chilled water, which is carried over 30 floors to supply the building’s cooling system.
Image courtesy of MTech/The Unfound Door
Building reputation
Falzone says that as the company has grown, its leaders have prioritized maintaining and building relationships.
“We work to build trust and relationships with our clients and develop turnkey propositions for them,” he says. “We try to get involved early in the design with design-build or design-assistance to put together something solid for the client.”
Roger Smith, president of Denver-based Howell Construction, has worked with MTech on numerous healthcare and laboratory projects.
MTech “has been useful for us in projects for advanced industries where the consequences of screwing up are high,” says Smith. “We like to get them to the table early.” He adds that “the firm’s in-house engineers are excellent” and that they have the specialized expertise needed for laboratory and healthcare projects.
“We know that [suicide] it’s a big issue in the construction industry, and we’ve tried to take a proactive approach and make sure our team members have access to resources and try to reduce the stigma around mental health issues.”
—Marco Capitelli, President, MTech
MTech has also partnered with Englewood-based Saunders Construction on numerous projects ranging from office buildings to healthcare facilities. For the past four years, the team has been carrying out the redevelopment of the Base Village at the Steamboat Springs Ski Area.
“Steamboat is not an easy place to work, but MTech did not hesitate to partner with us. They have a great reputation working in the mountains of Colorado,” says Justin Cooper, president of Saunders Construction. “At the end of the day, this is still a relationship business, and MTech leaders, I consider them friends. We can talk openly about a project, and that means a lot to us.”
Saunders has also partnered with MTech to support community causes, specifically those focused on suicide prevention.
“We know it’s a big issue in the construction industry and we’ve tried to take a proactive approach and make sure our team members have access to resources and try to reduce the stigma around mental health issues. We want let them know it’s okay to have conversations with each other about how we’re doing,” Capitelli says.
In recent years, several business leaders and employees have completed the HOPE suicide prevention training program. In addition, MTech has organized events that raised nearly $400,000 for community-based suicide prevention groups.
For 22 years, MTech’s community service committee has helped local charities with volunteer hours and money from company fundraising activities.
Looking ahead, Falzone says the company has a strong portfolio of projects, particularly in the institutional sector. In addition to the company’s growth, he says it’s rewarding to see the company’s next generation of leaders emerge.
“We want this to be a legacy company and we see great potential in some people we hired years ago to carry us another 20 to 25 years,” he says.
