Jamail & Smtih Construction isn't your typical general contractor

 

Darrell Smith, the Vice Present of our Healthcare Division, recently sat down with Bill Pemberton on Prime TV to discuss what sets us apart from other general contractors. Take a watch to find out how our "constructability" allows us to design facilities on time, at the lowest cost possible, and without compromising the design dynamics of the architect's vision.

Tasty Summer Dishes

Although the end of the summer is fast approaching on the calendar, we all know that this Texas heat will be with us through at least the beginning of October. Summer heat waves call for light and flavorful foods that will satisfy our cravings without leaving us overly stuffed. Here are a couple of healthy summer recipes that are sure to hit the spot!

Green Goddess Grilled Cheese Sandwich

Ingredients

2 slices whole grain bread 
2-3 tablespoons Green Goddess Herb Pesto (recipe below) or jarred pesto from the grocery store
2 slices mild white melty cheese like mozzarella
Handful fresh baby spinach
¼ avocado, sliced
2 tablespoons goat cheese, crumbled
Olive oil 

Directions

Spread about 1 tablespoon of Green Goddess Herb Pesto onto each slice of bread.

On one slice of bread, add 1 slice of cheese, sliced avocado, crumbled goat cheese, spinach, second slice of cheese, then top it with second slice of bread. Press together gently.

Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a frying pan over medium low heat. Add the sandwich to the oil and cook until bread is golden brown. Press down on the sandwich lightly, then flip the sandwich over and cook until second side is golden brown.

Green Goddess Herb Pesto
Ingredients

1 clove garlic
½ small shallot, chopped (about 1 tablespoon)
1 teaspoon lemon juice
Handful chopped fresh Italian parsley
Handful chopped kale
2-3 tablespoons chopped fresh tarragon
1 tablespoon chopped chives
¼ cup olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste

Directions

Pulse garlic and shallot in food processor until chopped. With the food processor running, add lemon juice, parsley, kale, tarragon and chives. (It won’t process very well yet, don’t worry).

Very slowly drizzle in olive oil until kale and herbs get sufficiently chopped and everything is the consistency of a pesto. You may need more or less of the olive oil depending on how big a “handful” of herbs is to you. You can also turn off the food processor and push herbs down the side of the bowl with a spatula every once in a while.

Season to taste with salt and pepper. 
Recipe via Trend Spotting

Black Bean, Orange and Corn Quinoa Salad

Ingredients

1 cup quinoa
2 cups water or chicken broth
1 can (15 oz. can) black beans, rinsed
1 whole orange, segmented and cut into chunks
1 cup corn kernels
½ whole red onion, chopped
1 whole jalapeno, chopped
1 whole red bell pepper, diced
1 bunch cilantro, chopped
¼ cups lime juice
¼ cups olive oil
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon salt

Directions
Cook the quinoa in water or chicken broth for 10-15 minutes. Add the black beans, orange and the corn, red onion, jalapeno, red bell pepper, and cilantro into the salad. Stir to combine.

Whisk together lime juice, olive oil, cumin, and salt. Drizzle over the quinoa salad mixture. Serve and enjoy!

Recipe via Tasty Kitchen

52 Healthy Meals in 12 Minutes or Less

Why spend hours cooking a gourmet feast when a nutritious and delicious mean could be only 12 minutes away?!

Visit the "Greatist" website below for breakfast, lunch and dinner recipes. There are also some great fitness and health tips to check out!

http://greatist.com/health/52-healthy-meals-in-12-minutes-or-less/

Thanks for the great ideas Greatist!

Should you Renovate or Relocate your Skilled Nursing Facility?

Esperanza Senior Living,
College Station, TX

• Does your facility show wear and tear and have outdated finishes?
• Are you within close proximity to hospitals and healthcare facilities?
• Have you outgrown your current space?
• Is your skilled nursing facility up to code?

All of these may lead to the determining the future of your  skilled nursing facility. Below are key points to consider before making a decision to renovate or relocate.

1.         Resident Safety & Waiver List

First and foremost, you must consider the safety of your residents and staff when considering whether to renovate or relocate your home. If your facility has waivers and needs upgrades in life safety and ADA compliance, a remodel may clear up some of the waivers and improve resident safety. If your facility isn’t currently designed to optimize valuable space with a good circulation pattern, you may opt for relocation with a new design (ie. neighborhood layout). Poor facility circulation can result in crowded nursing stations and corridors that share pathways with front-of-house and back-of-house activities, compromising safety, dignity and privacy of residents. A new home can be designed to avoid problems of crowded and congested corridors, resident privacy and safety with a better conceived floor plan. 

2.         Location

The location of your skilled nursing facility is critical when considering whether to renovate your existing building or relocate. Location can drive revenue based on the convenience to your residents and the community. If your home is located at a distance from key services in the community, you are at a disadvantage. It is also important to think about your competitors, the size of your property and how much you plan to grow when considering whether your location is sufficient.

You must consider your proximity to important services, such as hospitals and other medical care facilities. It is also important to research the market to see what your competitors are doing and how that will affect the occupancy of your facility.

3.         Census Level

The number of occupied beds you currently have is another important factor when deciding between renovation and relocation. Do you plan to grow exponentially in the next 10-20 years? If so, then maybe relocation to a new home is the best option for you. However, if you do not plan to outgrow your facility in the next couple of decades and currently have enough space and amenities for your current residents, it may be best for you to stay in your current home and invest money in renovation. It is also worth noting that you may be able to receive a 25% Medicaid bed increase if you relocate your facility.

Clifton Sunset Nursing Home, Clifton, TX

4.         Competition

As with any business, it is important to monitor what your competition is doing. If you find out that a competing facility is planning to construct a large facility at one of the best locations in town, it would be a good idea to consider relocating your home. However, if you happen to be the leader in  skilled nursing in your community or do not have any real competition, it may be best to simply stay where you are.

5.         Medicare Revenue

Revenue is always a key point of consideration when contemplating renovation vs. relocation. Some homes may be eligible for maximizing Medicare funded revenue if they make certain upgrades or additions to their facilities. However, your action is based solely on the capacity of your current home and its property. If you do not have room to make the necessary additions or your facility needs too many upgrades, it may be beneficial to consider relocating your home.

Each of the elements above must be carefully considered in determining whether you should make improvements to your home through relocation or renovation. The Jamail & Smith Construction Senior Living Team specializes in the design and creation of senior living facilities. From financial analysis, planning and development, to construction and operation of your facility, our team can help you through every step of the process. Our priority is to assist you in making your vision a reality through a seamless partnership.

If you would like a free assessment and consultation for your facility, please email the information below to marketing@jamailsmith.com and a member of our Senior Living Team will contact you to schedule a walk-through.

• When was your facility constructed?
• Where is your facility located(address)?
• What is your census level?
• What are the top two (2) improvements that you desire for your facility?
• Contact information: Name, Title, Phone number, Email address

Recipes for Healthy Living!

At Jamail & Smith Construction, we care about the health and safety of our employees both on and off the jobsite. We understand that eating right, exercising and keeping stress at a minimum are all important factors in leading a healthy life, and we want to do everything we can to encourage positive habits. Jamail & Smith Construction recently began a company-wide initiative to help our employees make their health goals a reality because we believe that a solid support system is the best way to achieve any goal. Below are a few  healthy recipes and links to helpful websites to kick-start our healthy living challenge!

Mandarin Mixed Green Salad

Ingredients

• 2 cups torn mixed salad greens
• 1/2 cup mandarin oranges
• 1/4 cup chopped walnuts, toasted
• Citrus Vinaigrette
• 3 tablespoons orange juice
• 2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar
• 1 teaspoon olive oil
• 1 teaspoon honey
• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
• 1 teaspoon reduced-sodium soy sauce
• 1/2 teaspoon minced gingerroot
• 1 garlic clove, minced

Directions 

Place greens on two serving plates; top with oranges and walnuts. In a blender, combine the vinaigrette ingredients; cover and process until blended. Drizzle over salads.

Nutritional Analysis:
Nutritional Analysis: One serving equals 181 calories, 11 g fat (1 g saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 177 mg sodium, 16 g carbohydrate, 2 g fiber, 6 g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 2 fat, 1 vegetable, 1 fruit. 

Shrimp and Avocado Salad

Ingredients

• 1 cup cooked salad shrimp
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives
• 1/3 cup mayonnaise
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 2 tablespoons chili sauce
• salt to taste
• 2 avocados, halved lengthwise and pitted
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• Bibb lettuce leaves
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• sliced pimento peppers, for garnish

Directions

1. In a bowl, mix the shrimp, chives, mayonnaise, Worcestershire sauce, and chili sauce. Season with salt.
2. Mound the shrimp mixture into avocado halves, and sprinkle with lemon juice. Place avocado halves on Bibb lettuce leaves that have been dusted with paprika. Garnish with strips of pimento to serve.

Nutritional Analysis:

One serving equals 341 calories, 29.9 g fat (1 g saturated fat), 69mg cholesterol

Above recipes submitted by Katrina Perryman

Resources for healthy recipes

http://shine.yahoo.com/food/

http://www.livestrong.com/recipes/

http://www.eatbetteramerica.com/healthy-recipes

Jamail & Smith Construction Contributes to Changes in JOC Legislation to Benefit Public Entities

Greg Smith, PE, Executive VP
Jamail & Smith Construction

During the last legislative session, Jamail & Smith Construction, and a consortium of Job Order Contractors worked collaboratively with the Associated General Contractors (ABC) and Texas Society of Architects (TSA) to make improvements to the laws affecting Job Order Contracting (JOC).  The original law, which had been drawn directly from the Federal Government, included provisions which were both undefined and ambiguous in the context of Texas Statute, leaving customers and contractors with questions on when and where JOC brought best value to Public Agencies.

Job Order Contracting

JOC has been used for decades by public entities to complete renovation and repair projects. JOC involves multi-year contracts that allow organizations to easily call on their chosen contractor when they need construction services. This delivery method increases response time and helps expedite the construction schedule, while saving owners time and money without compromising quality. JOC is fairly simple and straightforward, but it has often been misunderstood due to the ambiguity surrounding what exactly qualified as a JOC project and who could utilize the delivery method. On September 1, 2011, a law was codified that clarified the meaning of JOC, which helped to move the industry forward as a leading construction process.

Improvements in Legislation

1.      The first substantive improvement to come from House Bill 628 (HB 628) is a change in the verbiage to clearly authorize job order contracting for "maintenance, repair, alteration, renovation, remediation, or minor construction."  This new bill gives ALL public agencies the ability to confidently utilize job order contracting and minimizes the ambiguity that previously surrounded the definition of JOC work. 

2.      Second, HB 628 increases public transparency in the utilization of JOC, while preserving a public entity’s right to access JOC services through interlocal agreements and purchasing cooperatives.

3.  The third change is the establishment of an approval requirement of $500,000 for individual job orders. This approval requirement means an agency may use JOC for a job of any size, but if it costs more than $500,000, the public agency would have to approve the project in an open meeting with its governing board.  This approval threshold is substantially higher than any other procurement method.  Additionally, if an entity decided to use an interlocal agreement or purchasing cooperative to obtain JOC services, the interlocal agreement would require governing body approval, as well. 

Benefits for Public Entities

Overall, the changes in JOC legislation have streamlined the laws for local, state and education codes, making them consistent across the spectrum. HB 628 provides significant enhancements in the JOC law that allows for greater confidence of application by public agencies and improved transparency for taxpayers, while increasing the acceptance of a reliable service in the public market.

Jamail & Smith Construction is committed to helping our customers obtain greater value and improve the way they build.    Our efforts to improve the law, the techniques, and results of the construction process helps customers continue to get more, for less, more quickly.

Greg Smith, PE, Executive Vice President, Jamail & Smith Construction

Site in the Spotlight: Universal Church Westpark

Universal Church Westpark - See More Photos

Pare de Sufrir - Universal Church Westpark
Houston, TX

Jamail & Smith Construction constructed the new 46,000-sq-ft church for the Universal Church in Houston, TX. Ziegler Cooper Architects was  responsible for leading the design team. This is the fourth project Jamail & Smith Construction constructed for the Universal Church and the third church project where we partnered with Ziegler Cooper Architects.

The endeavor of planning a place of worship is a challenging, yet rewarding, task. Church design is personal, expressive and intimately connected to what the facility stands for. In constructing a place of worship, translating vision into reality is a key ingredient. Our successful Design Build relationship is based on working hand-in-hand with the building committee and congregation to deliver a facility that was appropriate for the church’s needs. Our experience with this and similar projects ensures our ability to work with churches and their constituents to successfully deliver a quality project within budget.

The Westpark project consists of a single-story church with seating for 1,100 in the sanctuary. The sanctuary was designed with an open floor plan and includes a raised stage, baptistry area and dressing rooms, as well as a TV studio for televising services. The church also houses six classrooms situated in a separate wing, a large lobby with a bookstore, four offices, a conference room, a call center and four apartments. The structure is made of steel, and the interior finishes are very modern, mainly constructed of metal wall panels inside and out. The flooring is mainly carpet and VCT; however, there is a large area of tile in front of the stage in the sanctuary. There is a porte cochere covering the main entrance, and the building is enclosed with an ornamental security gate. There are also 234 parking spaces for visitors and a basketball recreation area near the apartments.

Fire Marshal sends Congratulations to the Jamail & Smith Construction Project Team

According to the local fire marshal, the Westpark church building is currently considered the best building in Houston regarding code compliance and max code exigency. (It is) the most advanced in safety, security and code compliance in all possible areas. He congratulated the Jamail & Smith Construction team for constructing an exemplary project. The building construction surpassed their (inspection team) expectations considering the complex building shape and design. The fire marshal requested that the church owners allow his department to utilize this building as a model project to train future inspectors. 

Jamail & Smith Construction Employees - Building Better Lives

Existing home

Every year when spring break rolls around, Jamail & Smith Construction employee, Jason Gillespie packs up his family and sets out on a mission to rebuild lives. He and his family are not alone, of course. They have the support of a group of equally selfless people from their church, The Crossing Baptist Church in Mesquite, TX. This year, the novice missionaries trekked all the way down the valley in Donna (Mission), Texas, to help reinvigorate the hope of a severely disadvantaged family.

The Rivera family is headed by a single father, Jesus Rivera, who has been down on his luck for some time.  Determined to provide for his family and not let the hard times get him down, Jesus buys broken pallets for $1, repairs them by hand with a hammer and nails, and then resells them for $3 – a modest income, to say the least.

Jason presenting the family with the keys to their new home.

This house was their house until Jason, his family and his church group came in to build them a better life. In just 7 days, with the help of donations from two subcontractors that work with Jamail & Smith Construction in Dallas, the mission group was able to build the Rivera family a brand new home complete with a workshop where Jesus can do work year-round.  In addition to the home, the group was able to give Jesus an air compressor, a nail gun and six months worth of nails. Thanks to Jason, his family and the mission group, the Rivera family now has a basic necessity we all take for granted: a place to call home. 

New house with workshop

Read more from the Baptist Standard news story here.

Client Profile: CAS Consulting & Services, Inc.

Ribbon Cutting

After retiring from the City of Austin Watershed Protection Department, Channy Soeur decided to start his own company with his engineering supervisor and long time friend George Chang.  In March 1999, CAS Consulting & Services, Inc. was born. 

Soeur purchased a piece of land in 2005 for the distinct purpose of constructing a new headquarters for CAS. During the following year, Soeur and Chang performed an environmental assessment and developed a site plan. The site plan was approved in 2009 after a few road blocks relating to water and wastewater lines. Finally,10 years after inception, CAS Consulting & Services was well on its way to a state-of-the-art new headquarters, though it wouldn’t be for another year until construction commenced.

In December 2010, Jamail & Smith Construction was awarded the construction of the new CAS offices.  Their successful track record building similar projects and as well as the strong relationship the two companies had developed over the years.

Jamail & Smith Construction was given a notice to proceed on Dec. 10, 2010, with an estimated timeline of nine months. However, due to impeccable project management and precise scheduling, they completed the project two months ahead of schedule, and CAS Consulting & Services moved into their new home on July 15, 2011. The initial construction cost was estimated at $1.59MM, but Jamail & Smith Construction came in $75,000 under budget.  CAS hosted an open house celebration on July 29 with more 100 friends in attendance, including Austin Mayor Lee Leffingwell, Austin City Council members Mike Martinez and Chris Riley, former Austin Mayor Gus Garcia, a representative from the Travis County Commissioners Court and Jamail & Smith Constructions’ Executive Vice President, Greg Smith and project team members.

CAS Consulting & Services - New Location!

“The CAS Consulting & Services employees are ‘thrilled’ with the results, and they consistently receive glowing remarks from visitors,” says Soeur.

CAS Consulting & Services, Inc.

CAS Consulting & Services, Inc. started in 1999 in Austin, Texas. Currently CAS has four office locations - Austin, Dallas, Houston and San Antonio. CAS provides program management, construction management, water and wastewater engineering, stormwater engineering, water resources engineering, environmental engineering, and transportation engineering services. Channy Soeur, P.E., is the CEO of CAS. http://www.casengineers.com/

Jamail & Smith Construction: 30 Years Young

Before Jamail & Smith Construction burst onto the scene as an industry leader, few organizations outside the United States Military had even heard of Job Order Contracting. Now, the state of Texas has a law specifically designed to better facilitate JOC work, thanks in part to Jamail & Smith Construction. This is just one of the many milestones in the company’s rich, 30-year history.

Founded in 1982, Jamail & Smith Construction is celebrating its third decade of first-class service to public and private entities throughout Texas. We currently operate five offices in the state (Austin, Dallas, Houston, Killeen and San Antonio) and will soon expand outside of Texas.  We provide Job Order Contracting, design build and construction management services for new construction, renovation and tenant finish-out projects.

Most Important Asset: Our People

Jamail & Smith Construction is led by partners Jim Jamail and Gregory Smith, PE. The pair strive to exceed expectations for clients, employees and the industry by maximizing client service and satisfaction and making the customer look good. 

Jim Jamail & Greg Smith

Jamail founded the company immediately after college. As a life-long entrepreneur, he has steered the company through both good and lean times, continually shaping their service offering to meet customer needs. With more than 30 years in the industry, the company has tipped the $100-million-mark in construction for diverse project types.

Smith joined the firm in 2001 and has developed the company’s operational and business development processes to support successful growth.  He brought with him 20 years of professional engineering experience he gained during his time as Navy Civil Engineer Corps Officer and Corporate Construction Executive.

Perhaps one of the reasons Jamail & Smith Construction has lasted for 30 years is the innovative training programs they instated to strengthen the company’s foundation while also encouraging their employees toward career growth – professional, technical and personal. 

2012 Houston Holiday Party

Company Fun

Jamail & Smith Construction provides a work environment that supports strengthened employee relationships, family and fun.  Each location organizes individual office social events, including crawfish boils, barbeques, picnics, monthly cookouts and Friday morning breakfast. In addition to the company holiday parties, they also host an annual summer event that brings all of the regions together.  

Construction Services

Jamail & Smith Construction’s primary business is Job Order Contracting. Over the last 10 years, they have served as an on-call contractor to municipal, K-12 and higher education clients.  To date, they have served more than 55 public agencies and more than 35 school districts using JOC, traditional bid, design build and CM at Risk. 

Jamail & Smith Construction also serves retail, office and senior living clients.  The commercial division, managed by Vice President Darrell Smith, PE, is focused on developing, renovating and building senior care housing, including skilled nursing centers, nursing homes and assisted living facilities with various levels of service.  Additionally, the retail division constructs offices, retail establishments and banking institutions. 

Jamail & Smith Construction prides itself in consistent customer service to their clients, resulting in 90 percent repeat business and an overall customer satisfaction rating of 9.4 out of 10 based on customer satisfaction surveys.

The company was awarded the Associated Builders and Contractors Gold Medal of Safety Excellence for 2005 and the platinum medal for 2006 – 2011 because of their exceptional safety results.

Progressive Ideas and Growth

Jamail & Smith Construction stays on the cutting edge of the latest internal controls and software by following industry and environmental standards. In support of sustainable building programs that have grown in popularity, the company has begun hiring LEED accredited employees.  We have successfully completed two LEED Silver projects, as well as two projects within Green Building Standards. 

Over the last three years, Jamail & Smith Construction has actively helped Texans achieve energy independence one solar panel at a time.  We have installed more than $12MM in solar power voltaic systems on more than 11 campuses, including the largest completed solar project at one location in Austin to date at the University of Texas at Austin J.J. Pickle Research Campus.



Big Brothers Big Sisters Bowl for Kids Sake 2012

Support for Communities

Jamail & Smith Construction is active in the communities where they live and work. We support foundations for school districts, make charitable contributions, and sponsor events for local organizations and non-profits.

Most notably, we supported the Fort Bend community by teaming with their neighboring subcontractors and vendors to help the local charity East Fort Bend Human Needs Ministry raise more than $5,000.  Jamail & Smith Construction matched the contribution to help the organization fund their efforts to alleviate hunger and help families in need. Additionally, for the past four years, Jamail & Smith Construction employees have participated in the Big Brothers Big Sisters Bowl for Kids’ Sake event with fellow A/E/C industry supporters.