In the corridors and construction sites of RNGD, the adjective “relentless” is commonly heard.
“It’s in how we describe ourselves, our methods, our style. Seriously, it’s everywhere. But we live it every day, from the first mornings on site to implementing new plans in the office,” says Wesley J. Palmisano, founder and CEO of the New Orleans-based contractor. “[Being] Relentless fuels our original crazy idea: to elevate the construction industry by challenging industry norms and changing the status quo.”
For more than a decade, the company’s goals and benchmarks have fueled this research. Along the way, RNGD has celebrated wins, faced challenges, learned lessons and constantly expanded what the company and its employees are capable of, he says.
That relentless drive has resulted in a nearly 30% increase in revenue, from $195 million in 2022 to $262 million in 2023, according to the company’s figures. It ranks No. 45 on this year’s Top Contractors in Texas and Louisiana ranking, with $241.4 million in regional revenue. Last year, RNGD won the ENR Texas and Louisiana Best Project Award in the Renovation/Restoration category and the overall Project of the Year Award for its restoration of a former courthouse in New Orleans at the Carrollton Seniors Facility. This project is an example of RNGD’s expertise in historic renovation, preservation and reuse, but the company also performs work in infrastructure, industrial, mixed-use, steel fabrication and assembly, and multi-family residential. For its breadth of work and business performance, RNGD has been named Contractor of the Year by ENR Texas & Louisiana.
The H3C development is on the site of a parking lot at a former dairy processing plant in New Orleans.
Photo courtesy of RNGD
Persistent innovation
At the core of the RNGD team is the desire to revolutionize the way they build.
“We want to serve as a catalyst for innovation, in collaboration with others, and be part of a larger movement to improve the way projects are delivered,” says Palmisano. “Our goal is to help advance the industry incrementally with each project we undertake by incorporating a unique idea or new approach.”
Perhaps the best example of a project that showcases people and process innovation is H3C, a $32 million affordable housing and healthcare development in New Orleans. The three-building, 210,000-square-metre development has 192 one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, built to national green building standards. Ninety-two of them are reserved for seniors 55 and older, with design elements that allow for aging, according to the company. Construction began in January 2023 and ended 13 months later.
“Relentless fuels our original crazy idea: to elevate the construction industry by challenging industry norms and changing the status quo.”
—Wesley J. Palmisano, Founder and CEO, RNGD
The H3C development, located on the site of a former dairy processing plant parking lot, takes its name from the prioritization of health fused with the ongoing revitalization of the longtime Oretha Castle Haley Boulevard corridor. known locally for its culture, commerce and community.
A showcase of RNGD’s vertical integration credentials, the project utilized the company’s in-house infrastructure and prefabrication expertise. Infrastructure provided essential services below the surface through earthmoving and site preparation, along with all site utilities and connections to city infrastructure.
“Our steel team contributed to the building’s visible aspects and residential flow with structural bridges, stairs and elevators. RNGD also fabricated all railings for five sets of internal wood stairs,” the company says. In the lobby area, RNGD’s architectural custom fabrication team designed, fabricated and installed wood paneling of maple and built-in seats.In total, the weight of the materials, including structural and miscellaneous components, amounted to 200 tons.
H3C is the first Fitwel certified development in Louisiana. Originally created by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the US General Services Administration, Fitwel is a real estate certification platform that guides building design and operations to improve the lives of occupants and communities premises, according to the company.
The three-building, 210,000 square meter H3C development, which was built to green building standards, features 192 one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments.
Photo courtesy of RNGD
H3C also includes 12,600 square feet of retail and community space anchored by a federally qualified health center operated by DePaul Community Health Centers, one of the largest community health networks in Louisiana. Its Central City Clinic offers adult and pediatric medical and behavioral health services, has an on-site pharmacy and offers Medicaid enrollment assistance.
Another innovative project was the Carrollton, a luxury retirement home. Leading the multi-phase project, the RNGD team expertly wove the essential components of the historic renovation into the new construction. The nearly derelict old courthouse had to be cleaned up and rehabilitated, with the demolition including a surprise eviction of vultures.
Coordinating the historic renovation required using new methods to address the problems of an old building, and with a structure built 170 years ago, it also required patience. The clay parapet tiles on the roof were redone to replicate the original tiles which had cracked. The windows were reproduced to the exact original design and plaster cracks were identified, repaired and painted. More than 60 lintels had to be installed to replace damaged bricks over windows and doors.
The company’s teams were also responsible for aligning the height of the new three-story construction with the historic building. The two-story courthouse was built with large wooden planks, creating massive ceiling height, the company says. Budget constraints required retaining a plan to reach that same height. Instead, RNGD experts found a way to raise the flow by building ramps, which became a practical adjustment for residents in wheelchairs.
In December, RNGD broke ground on the $6.1 million DeSaix Bridge demolition and reconstruction project in New Orleans.
Photo courtesy of RNGD
Complementing the historic renovation are two newly constructed wings with 73 assisted living units, 20 memory care units and support structures. The $28.5 million renovation began in May 2020 and was completed in February 2023.
Buddy Henley, 2024 National President of Associated Builders and Contractors, said in an announcement that the project is “the pinnacle of quality, safety and innovation…showcasing RNGD’s incredible structures and equipment that build the best of best in store construction.”
RNGD has also faced challenges in its infrastructure work, including the $6.1 million DeSaix Boulevard bridge demolition and reconstruction project over Bayou St. John in New Orleans that started last December. Expected to be completed in October, it involves the relocation of power lines, the complete demolition of the old bridge and the addition of new concrete piles, a bridge deck, lighting, accessible curb ramps ADA and a protected pedestrian lane.
The cornerstone of this fluvial work is the replacement of old wooden piles with resistant prestressed concrete ones. This upgrade aims to offer longevity and reduced maintenance with a more durable foundation, the firm says. Changing from steel diaphragms to prestressed concrete decks will increase reliability and safety for commuters and pedestrians.
The RNGD team’s responsibilities extended beyond construction to orchestrating the delicate demolition of the old structure and the relocation of electrical elements. Crews meticulously dismantled the bridge, ensuring minimal disruption to the environment and community. Directional drilling under Bayou St. John fixed the connectivity issues, while the installation of electrical conduits and concrete conduit banks strengthened the infrastructure of the local pump station.
The transformation of a former New Orleans courthouse into a senior living facility earned RNGD the 2023 Project of the Year award from ENR Texas and Louisiana.
Photo courtesy of RNGD
Run by a floor sweeper
As a third-generation commercial general contractor, CEO Palmisano founded the company in 2013, putting his entrepreneurial mindset to work in an industry accustomed to tradition. Instead of looking to the conventions of the past for guidance, he says, he “takes inspiration from the innovators in our industry, as well as other industries such as automotive and shipbuilding. Both have developed an efficient assembly process and vertically integrated that we can all learn from and emulate.”
Also, he explains, RNGD does not have a rigid chain of command. “My official job title (Founder, CEO and Floor Sweeper) is a reflection of our core belief that no one is above any task. It doesn’t matter how long you’ve been here or what your title is, because we’re all here to get a result and we all have a role to play.”
RNGD continues to move forward, announcing a recent company move to suburban Jefferson Parish in a $25 million expansion that consolidated its Southeast manufacturing operations and created a training center and corporate headquarters as part of an aggressive growth strategy, according to the company.
“RNGD is an excellent example of the innovation that is transforming long-standing economic drivers like construction and manufacturing,” Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Susan B. Bourgeois said in an announcement.
The company also believes in giving back. New Orleans, which has one of the highest poverty rates in the country, has often been the beneficiary of RNGD philanthropy. Through the Palmisano Foundation, the company’s 501(c)(3) organization, RNGD has participated in, hosted or donated to a variety of nonprofit and charitable events and organizations. These include Renegade Fest, the annual fundraising music festival that raised $116,000 in 2023, as well as Junior Achievement, unCommon Construction, Son of a Saint, Raintree Services, New Orleans Women and Children’s Shelter, New Orleans Career Center and Fore !Kids Foundation.
The foundation also awarded 17 scholarships to high school students in construction industry curricular pathways, giving more than $240,000 by 2023, according to RNGD.
