Translating visions into reality
Translating visions into reality
Penta Building Group has carved a niche as a developer of cutting-edge buildings by turning designers' dreams into functional structures
By James J. Hodl
While architectural and interior designers create the plans for everything from in-house restaurants to skyscraper hotels, it is the job of the general contractor to bring their vision to reality.
In the southwestern United States, developers of small and major construction projects for the gaming market have increasingly turned to Las Vegas-based Penta Building Group to convert these plans into a solid structure that both brings awe to the public and serves its intended commercial purpose.
For the past five years, Penta Building Group has carved a niche for itself as a developer of cutting-edge hotel, casino, timeshare and commercial properties. From the humble dream of its three founders, Penta has grown into one of the nation's top 200 general contractors in terms of revenues generated, having done more than $200 million in business during 2004. The company's work dots the landscape of Southern Nevada and Southern California, and with the opening earlier this year of a branch office in Reno, Penta is on its way to becoming a major player in the Northern Nevada and Northern California markets.
The reason for Penta's success is its "uncompromising quest to deliver superior yet cost-effective preconstruction and construction services to its clients," said Lou Primak, preconstruction director. These services are provided with a hands-on approach by a team of top professionals who focus on the clients' needs and work with them to achieve their desired goals.
Team effort
Overseeing Penta are the three founders-President Jeff Ehret, Vice President Ken Alber and Vice President Blake Anderson-who collectively have 65 years experience in general construction.
Supporting them is a staff of 84 full-time professionals skilled in providing the many services that the company currently offers. Working in a family-style environment maintained by the company principals, these employees "are top people in their skill areas whose hard work has enable Penta to grow as fast as it has and develop its current reputation," said Alber.
Penta just sort of "came together" in 2000, Alber said.
"We were three guys who, with other construction companies, had worked together on major projects," he said. "We respected each other's talents and decided by officially becoming a working ownership team, we could offer the market something extra. So we got entrepreneurial, said 'Let's go for it!' and founded Penta."
In the beginning, Penta primarily took on smaller remodeling jobs for restaurants and hospitality areas within the gaming market. Many of these early jobs resulted from past relationships with Las Vegas-based properties, including those of Caesars, Bally's and Harrah's.
"When that type of work slowed down in the wake of 9-11, Penta undertook a major effort to diversify into other construction areas," Alber noted.
Since then, Penta has secured major jobs constructing hotels, casinos, timeshare resorts, retail buildings, and industrial and distribution facilities.
Penta still does about two-thirds of its work for the gaming industry, Primak said.
Input and expertise
"The major strength of Penta is its ability to give designers exactly what they want in terms of look and feel in the finished structure," Primak noted.
"We get involved with the design team early on in a project. We examine their individual ideas in advance to determine what they are after with the design. Then we determine what needs to be done to implement the details, and spot pitfalls so we can devise ways to avoid them," he explained.
Penta personnel bring their own special know-how to these project meetings. The firm's estimators are very knowledgeable of current costs for materials, and thus can provide accurate estimates of the job's final cost. Others bring a full understanding restaurant cooking technologies and building and health code regulations, thus avoiding pitfalls that could delay putting the restaurant into service.
A typical project will be overseen by a Penta principal. Working under him are project managers and superintendents that act as a team from project startup to completion. One or more project engineers and contract administrators round out a staff, Primak noted.
As to what constitutes a typical Penta-contracted job is hard to define, Primak said.
"We look for jobs that are challenging, contain a facet that is out of the ordinary, are on a fast-track basis, and where the drawings are not fully developed," he noted.
Theme spark
Penta gravitates toward projects with "theming," where everything is built around a theme. From the beginning, the company has taken pride in devising ways to make things happen for its clients, and along the way has constructed many memorable restaurants and other places to have fun or relax.
One of Penta's earliest projects was the Margaritaville Restaurant adjacent to the Las Vegas Flamingo Hotel & Casino. This three-story 27,000-square-foot restaurant with retail area, several bars and a performance stage has, among other decorative touches, artwork renderings of sharks and whales that appear to be swimming over one bar.
The Sea Blue Restaurant in the MGM Grand Hotel & Casino, with a 7,000-square-foot private dining area and kitchen, has 12 different water features worked into its décor, including a large tank of swimming sardines by the main entrance.
Most opulent is the Shibuya Restaurant in the MGM Grand Hotel & Casino, a nearly 8,000-suqare-foot Japanese restaurant in which Penta installed a 35-foot by 18-foot acrylic box and video wall. Decorative touches include pink glass panels, a 35-foot marble sushi counter, and three teppanyaki cooking tables.
Penta's past customers speak highly of the firm's abilities.
At the Spa Resort Casino in Palm Springs, Calif., Penta has performed several jobs, including constructing the spectacular Parisi interior of the Roppangi Restaurant.
"The Tribal Council of the Agua Caliente Indians, which own the Spa, selected Penta not because they had the lowest bid, but because they had the best resources to get the job done within our schedule," said Rob Donnels, director of construction with the Agua Caliente Tribe. "And they delivered everything they promised. Their work was highly professional and efficient. And best of all, they completed the job ahead of schedule, thus saving us money."
Branching out
During the past few years, Penta has diversified into many parallel construction markets, some outside of the gaming industry. These include high-end retail shopping centers and buildings housing big-box retailers.
Penta also has undertaken construction of a new 140,000-square-foot student union at the University of Nevada at Las Vegas, which includes facilities ranging from restaurants and lounges to student-related retail operations. The project requires tearing down the old student union in sections to be replaced by the larger and more expensive structure.
"Penta is targeting the hot construction markets, and there is none so hot in the Las Vegas area as high-rise condominiums and timeshares," Primak said.
One of Penta's current major projects is the Hilton Grand Vacations Club in Las Vegas. Being built in two stages, Penta completed the $40-million timeshare condominium complex's 20-story building last year. The second building, a 42-story structure is currently under construction.
With Las Vegas hotels torridly pursuing the convention business, Penta has landed major jobs in constructing convention and conference facilities. These include the expansion of the Caesars' Convention Center (scheduled for completion in late June 2005) and the Pavilion Convention Center at the Rio All-Suites Hotel & Casino (which was completed last December).
The future for Penta Building Group appears as busy as in the immediate past. According to Alber, since the opening of Penta's Reno office, the firm is already pursuing several projects in Northern Nevada. The firm also has been selected for a major renovation of the San Remo hotel-casino in Las Vegas.
SIDEBAR ONE
The Penta Building Group
7251 Amigo Street
Las Vegas, NV 89119
(702) 614-1678
Fax: (702) 614-3851
www.pentabldggroup.com
Executives:
Jeff Ehret, president
Ken Alber, vice president
Blake Anderson, vice president
Total Business in 2004:
$200 million
Provides General Constructing For:
• Hotel/casinos
• Restaurants/hospitality areas
• Timeshare resorts
• Shopping centers
• Big box retail outlets
• Industrial/distribution facilities
• Convention centers
• Institutional buildings
Current Projects:
Hilton Grand Vacation Club
Flamingo room remodeling
Caesars Convention Center expansion
SIDEBAR TWO
Penta Building Group takes pride in devising ways to fit unusual features into its projects
When designers of the Sea Blue Restaurant in the MGM Grand Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, said they wanted a large aquarium as part of the décor, Penta engineers worked out the details on how the glass could be brought quickly yet unobtrusively into the hotel/casino and assembled in the dining area, said Lou Primak, preconstruction director for the firm. This included assuring that the finished wall-size tank in which live fish swim for the entertainment of diners had a watertight fit.
Another challenge was presented by a large and heavy art structure that had to be suspended from the ceiling of the Roppongi Restaurant at the Spa Resort Casino in Palm Springs, Calif. Made by a local artist, the 30-foot by 10-foot sculpture consisted of a substantial length of one-inch tubing linked at odd angles so as to resemble one observer called a convention of snakes. To get it to suspend properly, Penta subcontracted the services of an outside fabricator to uncompromisingly fit the artwork within the existing structure of the building. The result, Primak noted, made the artist look good and provided the feel he wanted, while giving diners something to enjoy while looking up from their Asian Fusion cuisine meals.
Still another unique challenge was presented by the remodeling of the Voodoo Café and Lounge nightclub atop the Rio Suites Hotel Casino, Las Vegas.
The project involved the demolishing the existing club structure on the Rio's 50th and 51st floors and building a new one in its place. Included in Voodoo's new design was a complex stair system that posed some problems in getting the bulky materials to the point of assembly. To speed the flow of construction-Penta takes pride in bringing construction projects in on or before deadline-helicopters were employed to transport the materials to the top of the Rio, Ken Alber, Penta vice president, explained.
This latter solution fits into another Penta policy of keeping remodeling jobs or new construction in and around casinos from interfering with the casinos' other operations.
"Existing operations have to keep going during construction, so Penta plans its projects so as to impact as little as possible these operations and the flow of customers to them," Primak said.
-James J. Hodl
Penta Building Group has carved a niche as a developer of cutting-edge buildings by turning designers' dreams into functional structures
By James J. Hodl
While architectural and interior designers create the plans for everything from in-house restaurants to skyscraper hotels, it is the job of the general contractor to bring their vision to reality.
In the southwestern United States, developers of small and major construction projects for the gaming market have increasingly turned to Las Vegas-based Penta Building Group to convert these plans into a solid structure that both brings awe to the public and serves its intended commercial purpose.
For the past five years, Penta Building Group has carved a niche for itself as a developer of cutting-edge hotel, casino, timeshare and commercial properties. From the humble dream of its three founders, Penta has grown into one of the nation's top 200 general contractors in terms of revenues generated, having done more than $200 million in business during 2004. The company's work dots the landscape of Southern Nevada and Southern California, and with the opening earlier this year of a branch office in Reno, Penta is on its way to becoming a major player in the Northern Nevada and Northern California markets.
The reason for Penta's success is its "uncompromising quest to deliver superior yet cost-effective preconstruction and construction services to its clients," said Lou Primak, preconstruction director. These services are provided with a hands-on approach by a team of top professionals who focus on the clients' needs and work with them to achieve their desired goals.
Team effort
Overseeing Penta are the three founders-President Jeff Ehret, Vice President Ken Alber and Vice President Blake Anderson-who collectively have 65 years experience in general construction.
Supporting them is a staff of 84 full-time professionals skilled in providing the many services that the company currently offers. Working in a family-style environment maintained by the company principals, these employees "are top people in their skill areas whose hard work has enable Penta to grow as fast as it has and develop its current reputation," said Alber.
Penta just sort of "came together" in 2000, Alber said.
"We were three guys who, with other construction companies, had worked together on major projects," he said. "We respected each other's talents and decided by officially becoming a working ownership team, we could offer the market something extra. So we got entrepreneurial, said 'Let's go for it!' and founded Penta."
In the beginning, Penta primarily took on smaller remodeling jobs for restaurants and hospitality areas within the gaming market. Many of these early jobs resulted from past relationships with Las Vegas-based properties, including those of Caesars, Bally's and Harrah's.
"When that type of work slowed down in the wake of 9-11, Penta undertook a major effort to diversify into other construction areas," Alber noted.
Since then, Penta has secured major jobs constructing hotels, casinos, timeshare resorts, retail buildings, and industrial and distribution facilities.
Penta still does about two-thirds of its work for the gaming industry, Primak said.
Input and expertise
"The major strength of Penta is its ability to give designers exactly what they want in terms of look and feel in the finished structure," Primak noted.
"We get involved with the design team early on in a project. We examine their individual ideas in advance to determine what they are after with the design. Then we determine what needs to be done to implement the details, and spot pitfalls so we can devise ways to avoid them," he explained.
Penta personnel bring their own special know-how to these project meetings. The firm's estimators are very knowledgeable of current costs for materials, and thus can provide accurate estimates of the job's final cost. Others bring a full understanding restaurant cooking technologies and building and health code regulations, thus avoiding pitfalls that could delay putting the restaurant into service.
A typical project will be overseen by a Penta principal. Working under him are project managers and superintendents that act as a team from project startup to completion. One or more project engineers and contract administrators round out a staff, Primak noted.
As to what constitutes a typical Penta-contracted job is hard to define, Primak said.
"We look for jobs that are challenging, contain a facet that is out of the ordinary, are on a fast-track basis, and where the drawings are not fully developed," he noted.
Theme spark
Penta gravitates toward projects with "theming," where everything is built around a theme. From the beginning, the company has taken pride in devising ways to make things happen for its clients, and along the way has constructed many memorable restaurants and other places to have fun or relax.
One of Penta's earliest projects was the Margaritaville Restaurant adjacent to the Las Vegas Flamingo Hotel & Casino. This three-story 27,000-square-foot restaurant with retail area, several bars and a performance stage has, among other decorative touches, artwork renderings of sharks and whales that appear to be swimming over one bar.
The Sea Blue Restaurant in the MGM Grand Hotel & Casino, with a 7,000-square-foot private dining area and kitchen, has 12 different water features worked into its décor, including a large tank of swimming sardines by the main entrance.
Most opulent is the Shibuya Restaurant in the MGM Grand Hotel & Casino, a nearly 8,000-suqare-foot Japanese restaurant in which Penta installed a 35-foot by 18-foot acrylic box and video wall. Decorative touches include pink glass panels, a 35-foot marble sushi counter, and three teppanyaki cooking tables.
Penta's past customers speak highly of the firm's abilities.
At the Spa Resort Casino in Palm Springs, Calif., Penta has performed several jobs, including constructing the spectacular Parisi interior of the Roppangi Restaurant.
"The Tribal Council of the Agua Caliente Indians, which own the Spa, selected Penta not because they had the lowest bid, but because they had the best resources to get the job done within our schedule," said Rob Donnels, director of construction with the Agua Caliente Tribe. "And they delivered everything they promised. Their work was highly professional and efficient. And best of all, they completed the job ahead of schedule, thus saving us money."
Branching out
During the past few years, Penta has diversified into many parallel construction markets, some outside of the gaming industry. These include high-end retail shopping centers and buildings housing big-box retailers.
Penta also has undertaken construction of a new 140,000-square-foot student union at the University of Nevada at Las Vegas, which includes facilities ranging from restaurants and lounges to student-related retail operations. The project requires tearing down the old student union in sections to be replaced by the larger and more expensive structure.
"Penta is targeting the hot construction markets, and there is none so hot in the Las Vegas area as high-rise condominiums and timeshares," Primak said.
One of Penta's current major projects is the Hilton Grand Vacations Club in Las Vegas. Being built in two stages, Penta completed the $40-million timeshare condominium complex's 20-story building last year. The second building, a 42-story structure is currently under construction.
With Las Vegas hotels torridly pursuing the convention business, Penta has landed major jobs in constructing convention and conference facilities. These include the expansion of the Caesars' Convention Center (scheduled for completion in late June 2005) and the Pavilion Convention Center at the Rio All-Suites Hotel & Casino (which was completed last December).
The future for Penta Building Group appears as busy as in the immediate past. According to Alber, since the opening of Penta's Reno office, the firm is already pursuing several projects in Northern Nevada. The firm also has been selected for a major renovation of the San Remo hotel-casino in Las Vegas.
SIDEBAR ONE
The Penta Building Group
7251 Amigo Street
Las Vegas, NV 89119
(702) 614-1678
Fax: (702) 614-3851
www.pentabldggroup.com
Executives:
Jeff Ehret, president
Ken Alber, vice president
Blake Anderson, vice president
Total Business in 2004:
$200 million
Provides General Constructing For:
• Hotel/casinos
• Restaurants/hospitality areas
• Timeshare resorts
• Shopping centers
• Big box retail outlets
• Industrial/distribution facilities
• Convention centers
• Institutional buildings
Current Projects:
Hilton Grand Vacation Club
Flamingo room remodeling
Caesars Convention Center expansion
SIDEBAR TWO
Penta Building Group takes pride in devising ways to fit unusual features into its projects
When designers of the Sea Blue Restaurant in the MGM Grand Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, said they wanted a large aquarium as part of the décor, Penta engineers worked out the details on how the glass could be brought quickly yet unobtrusively into the hotel/casino and assembled in the dining area, said Lou Primak, preconstruction director for the firm. This included assuring that the finished wall-size tank in which live fish swim for the entertainment of diners had a watertight fit.
Another challenge was presented by a large and heavy art structure that had to be suspended from the ceiling of the Roppongi Restaurant at the Spa Resort Casino in Palm Springs, Calif. Made by a local artist, the 30-foot by 10-foot sculpture consisted of a substantial length of one-inch tubing linked at odd angles so as to resemble one observer called a convention of snakes. To get it to suspend properly, Penta subcontracted the services of an outside fabricator to uncompromisingly fit the artwork within the existing structure of the building. The result, Primak noted, made the artist look good and provided the feel he wanted, while giving diners something to enjoy while looking up from their Asian Fusion cuisine meals.
Still another unique challenge was presented by the remodeling of the Voodoo Café and Lounge nightclub atop the Rio Suites Hotel Casino, Las Vegas.
The project involved the demolishing the existing club structure on the Rio's 50th and 51st floors and building a new one in its place. Included in Voodoo's new design was a complex stair system that posed some problems in getting the bulky materials to the point of assembly. To speed the flow of construction-Penta takes pride in bringing construction projects in on or before deadline-helicopters were employed to transport the materials to the top of the Rio, Ken Alber, Penta vice president, explained.
This latter solution fits into another Penta policy of keeping remodeling jobs or new construction in and around casinos from interfering with the casinos' other operations.
"Existing operations have to keep going during construction, so Penta plans its projects so as to impact as little as possible these operations and the flow of customers to them," Primak said.
-James J. Hodl
