Page 7 - Graypvine December 2020

have acclimated to a multitude of dynamic conditions Distribution & coming months as we begin laying the framework for
in 2020 – the most impactful being the global Commercial next year’s builds.
pandemic we are experiencing. with Rodney Carpenter We are off to a great start to the new fiscal year
Within our Mission Critical teams -- both site and Vice President, Distribution which will undoubtedly offer some new challenges
project management -- we have worked tirelessly & Commercial Market to our teams. Thanks to all for continuing to keep us
to navigate the COVID-19 storm. There have been In the midst of a worldwide pandemic, who would “safe” and remain disciplined in our approach to lead
valuable lessons each of us have learned through have thought Fiscal Year 2020 would wrap up in such our teams in light of the on-going pandemic.
these times; tools we can put in our tool chest to be an exciting manner? This is a great testament to our
better prepared for the next challenge. ability to adapt and overcome. As I reflect on the Gray Architects &
In the last few months, we have completed our many chapters of Gray’s 60-year history, 2020 will be
original Mission Critical wins: CMH 054, OSU 061, a pivotal milestone for years to come. Engineers
PDX 090 and BlueMarlin. We have provided 100 Publix Super Markets is an exciting chapter for with Dowell Hoskins
President
megawatts of power distribution and completed 70 Gray. In April 2019 we submitted our proposal for
contractual milestones on time! Each successful Publix’s Greensboro, North Carolina distribution 2020 will not a be a year that we forget about 7
completion brings new opportunities. We were campus project. In the beginning our team wasn’t anytime soon, although many of us would like to! The
recently awarded the last two buildings on the original overly confident that the opportunity would materialize COVID pandemic definitely threw us a curveball last
PDX-090 campus. This award brings our sales for into a viable project. We persevered, rose to the Spring, but we were quick to adapt to the remote work
FY 2020 to just over $500 Million and over a 100% occasion and secured the win for our first project environment. That alone could be a game changer
growth in sales from FY 2019. A big congratulations for Publix in June 2019, and began preliminary site moving forward – namely it gives us the ability to find
to our entire team for a great year! work activities the following December. Then, three talented team members that may not reside near one
The horizon looks bright for the next year as we years ahead of its original construction schedule, of our office locations. And, unlike many of our peers in
look to expand our customer base. We are currently Publix elected to move forward with a 1.3 million the A/E industry, we have continued to be successful in
in the process of building new relationships with s.f. dry warehouse to accompany the 1 million s.f. winning new work and moved into Fiscal Year 2021 with
customers in our market. If successful, these new refrigerated warehouse currently under construction a record volume in our backlog of design work. Credit
relationships will provide positive momentum for the on the Greensboro campus. Through diligence and goes to all of the hard work that everyone dedicated to
new year. the purposeful steps of the project team, Gray was countless proposals and presentations – always putting
As we approach the holiday season, let us be chosen as the design-build partner to perform this our customers’ needs first. Our A/E team continues
reminded we have much to be thankful for. Many fast-track project, which will accompany the 11 other to grow to meet the increasing project demands. We
companies across the country continue to struggle buildings to be delivered in early Fall 2022. Multiple recently welcomed Michael Smith and Ashley Duggan to
with the effects of the on-going pandemic. Let’s project teams are currently working to complete $370 the team in Charlotte and Lauren Spetnagle to the team
remain steadfast as we continue to overcome the million in Publix projects over the next 21 months. in Lexington.
challenges of this year and the unknowns of the We are tracking a number of project leads for On a more somber note, we recently lost an extremely
coming year. We are a company that thrives as a distribution projects throughout the U.S. for both new talented member of our team. Terry Hainley passed away
family, serves through our generosity, and prospers and repeat customers. Companies are looking to on November 13th after a nearly 2-year battle with cancer.
despite adversities. All hands on deck as we steer enhance and expand supply chain capabilities as they Terry worked his entire career at Gray, which began
toward 2021! continue to reinvent themselves in the shadows of a in 1998; he had a real eye for design and influenced
global pandemic. The need for cold storage projects many projects over the years, including Gates of New
appears to be on the uptick and we are poised to England projects, Tower Automotive, Mobis Georgia,
increase our share in that market segment. Hysco, Johnson Controls, Harman Becker, Montoplast,
In commercial news, we recently had a successful Volkswagen (the Arrival Building and Pedestrian Bridge),
opening for the new Costco Warehouse in Cherry Michelin, Mercedes and Amada. Terry was a talented
Hill, New Jersey. Our team is budgeting several new architect but an even better husband, father and friend to
Costco warehouses in the U.S. and Canada over the all of us – we will miss him dearly.