The entire APG team is honored to have received our latest national award—the 2017 IEC Award of Excellence in Electrical Construction! Which project earned this impressive accolade? The Raymond James Stadium 2016 Renovations.

These prestigious Awards of Excellence are only presented to a handful of companies at the annual IEC National Convention and Expo. This year, Tim White and Terry Ryan attended the Awards Gala in Phoenix, Arizona and accepted the prize on our behalf. To be considered for the award, APG submitted an entry package that included photos, letters of recommendation, and narratives describing the project and its challenges. We were proud to submit this project on behalf of the hardworking men and women who brought this luxurious and technologically advanced stadium to life.
 
APG provided the electrical, fire alarm, structured cabling, and TV distribution work for this drastic renovation. Scoreboards, ribbon boards, sound systems, clubs, concessions, and 128 luxury suites were either completely renovated or totally replaced. Our team installed over 4,500 light fixtures, more than 50 miles of conduit, and 160 miles of wire, all the while overcoming pricing and scheduling challenges. Our installation quality stayed astonishingly high from start to finish, and we were even able to finish ten days early!
 
APG is extremely proud to have won the IEC National Award of Excellence for this massive project. Congratulations to Project Manager Ted Maczuga, Project Superintendent Josh Falini, and all of those whose hard work and dedication made this project a success!

​What is the single most important thing to our healthcare clients? THE PATIENT EXPERIENCE! At the end of the day, after all the designing, cost planning, and construction, success is measured by the level of comfort and care a patient receives. APG plays a critical role in that experience, from emergency power generation to lighting controls to integrated system design. We’re proud of the contribution we make to the healthcare industry, and it gives us great satisfaction to know that we’ve helped thousands of facilities to provide the best patient experience possible. 
 
We’re extremely proud of the reputation we’ve earned with our state’s AHCA inspectors – we’ve NEVER failed a 100% AHCA inspection in our entire company history - but this field is always moving forward and it’s up to us to move right along with it. Recently, our clients have asked us to deliver an even better project, mentioning specific things we can do to improve. Our response? ABSOLUTELY! We highly value feedback on our team’s performance because it drives us to be the best in the business. 
 
With that in mind, we have two major goals. First, increase communication between APG Engineering, Preconstruction, and Construction. These three teams will work as one collective group to deliver outstanding service to every client. The left hand MUST know what the right is doing! Second, channel our years of experience in a facility to the MEPFT drawings and specifications we create. If we built or have worked in the building, our designs should make it clear that we know the facility from top to bottom. Keep an eye out for marked improvements in these two areas, and by all means let us know how we’re doing so far and what we can do better!
 
To bolster our drive to improve and keep a finger on the pulse of the industry, APG sends a group of employees to the Florida Healthcare Engineering Association’s Annual Meeting and Trade Show each year. The FHEA trade show was held in conjunction with the annual seminar put on by the Office of Plans and Construction in the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA). These two events combined draw thousands of healthcare construction and operations professionals from all over the state, and this year was no exception.
 
Held at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort on October 17th and 18th, APG was well represented by members from all over the company. Our booth at the trade show was a major hit and hundreds of visitors stopped by to discuss trends in construction, upcoming projects, and where the industry is headed. While our estimators, project managers, and business developers visited with general contractors, product vendors, and healthcare facility managers at the trade show, our engineers attended seminars on new methods in construction, keeping our Engineering Group on the cutting edge of today’s design standards.
 
It was especially exciting to see our own Audio/Visual Group Manager Heather Callaway and our Technology Consultant Todd Potter make a fantastic presentation to a room full of industry professionals and clients. It was titled “Technology costs are not in my construction budget!! What is next?” and focused on how to handle a common problem that impacts owners, architects, and contractors alike. Audio/Visual and other low voltage systems are often an after-thought in the overall construction budget but are critical to the project’s success. What can be done when system costs appear to be far greater than originally estimated? Heather and Todd offered practical solutions and introduced the many technology experts at APG, all of whom stand at the ready to offer assistance through every stage of design and construction. 

In July 2016, APG was awarded a more than $6.5 million contract by Skanska USA Building to provide electrical construction, fire alarm, and BIM services for the new Johns Hopkins All Children’s Research and Education Building. This innovative and technologically-advanced new facility will be a center for collaboration in pediatric education and research. The project is already having a positive impact on the community by providing nearly 300 construction jobs, and it will soon support 30 new highly skilled jobs and an estimated 200 faculty, educators, researchers, physicians, nurses, and support staff.
 
The Research and Education Building will be approximately 225,000 square feet, spread over seven floors. It will include a 250 seat auditorium for team-based learning, a simulation lab for clinical teaching, shared workspaces, research labs and offices, and an expanded pediatric biorepository to support research and clinical care. It will house the research and academic offices of the Johns Hopkins All Children’s Heart Institute, the Cancer & Blood Disorders Institute, the Institute for Brain Protection Sciences, and the Maternal, Fetal & Neonatal Institute. This facility will truly be a powerhouse of learning and advancement in healthcare!
 
The APG team has been working hard and it shows. We’ve already installed over 200,000 feet of conduit and pulled over 338,000 feet of wire. As construction progresses, we’ll have installed more than 3,000 light fixtures, all of which will be reflected in a precisely coordinated 3D BIM model. In fact, due to an important upfront investment in BIM, ninety percent of the overhead feeder conduits could be roughed-in before the first wall was ever installed. Supervisors have ensured good organization, quality work, and have kept things running ahead of schedule. But it’s not all just hard work! On the first Friday of every month, all the project workers move to the beat at a dance party that brings joy to the pediatric patients who watch from the hospital across the street. The kids get a real kick out of it and everyone heads back to work with a big smile on their face.
 
We look forward to the successful completion of this important project next year and appreciate having been selected by Skanska as their electrical contractor of choice. We also want to thank Project Manager Anthony Ciquera, Project Superintendent Vaughn Orluski, and our many talented field technicians for their dedicated service. Keep up the great work!

​An experienced and determined project manager is critical to the success of any construction project. No matter how accurate an estimate is or how skilled the installers are, poor management can cause delays, overages, and frustration. At the same time, a challenging or behind-schedule project can be completely turned around when the right team is in place. APG has worked hard to be the “go-to” team for innovative construction in Tampa Bay, and we’ve earned a reputation for delivering even the most difficult and imaginative designs on time and in budget. Have you had the chance to work with one of the 12 construction project managers in our Clearwater or Lakeland offices?
 
Performing all of our systems work in-house enables us to provide a general contractor with one point of contact for a vast amount of work, so most don’t realize that every APG specialty group has its own dedicated project managers. Engineering, Construction, Service, Technology, Automation, and Life Safety each have a unique team of project managers that specialize in their particular field. They then report to a lead project manager responsible for every scope under contract, which ensures that the owner gets a best-in-class installation and the general contractor has a smooth and hassle-free experience.
 
As APG has grown, so has the workload. Company-wide, our project managers now handle approximately $6,000,000 in sales every single month! The construction project management team is at the core of our company and when it’s time to perform, they step up to get the job done, no matter the challenge. It had been a long time since any significant changes were made to the team, but a little over a year ago we made a major leap forward by adding Construction Manager Bill Lavelle. Bill works closely with the project managers, superintendents, and foremen to keep our projects on time and in budget—from start to finish! With regular tracking on current projects and upcoming work, we’re able to effectively manage our 400-strong workforce and keep every jobsite running smoothly.
 
Sherry Tew, Elizabeth Herman, and Jennifer Gobright are the glue that hold our project managers together, enabling them to function as a unit. They assist with all aspects of the administrative work related to project management, including the execution of contracts, subcontracts, purchase orders, insurance requirements, and outgoing correspondence. What they do behind the scenes on a daily basis is simply amazing and we couldn’t be successful without them.
 
We are extremely proud of our project management team’s dedication to detail, documentation, and collaboration. Their drive for excellence has made them a critical part of our company’s success and contributes to the outstanding reputation APG has earned in the construction industry. A sincere thank you to all of them!

​ 
On April 5, the Associated Builders and Contractors—Florida Gulf Coast Chapter recognized and celebrated outstanding projects during the bi-annual Excellence In Construction Awards event held at the Hilton in downtown Tampa. This industry leading competition showcased 76 projects from around the Gulf Coast with a collective value of more than $3 billion, all performed by merit shop contractors. A wide cross-section of our industry was recognized, including general, electrical, mechanical, roofing, fire protection, landscaping, and more. Every project was completed on time, within budget, with excellent workmanship, and, most importantly, safely. A panel of architects and engineers reviewed each submission with an eye for innovation on the job and the ability to overcome obstacles.
 
We were happy to see many general contractors being recognized for projects on which they had partnered with APG, including Creative Contractors, Inc. for the Bryan Glazer Family Jewish Community Center and Manhattan Construction for the Amalie Arena Event Level Club Renovations. Both of these projects won Excellence Eagle Awards in their respective categories. Another partner, The A.D. Morgan Corporation, took home a Merit Award for the Polk State College Center for Public Safety.
 
The most exciting news came at the end of the evening. Out of all of this year’s project submissions, APG was honored with the 2017 Subcontractor Project of the Year award in recognition of our Phase 1 Renovation of Raymond James Stadium! Our team joined Manhattan Construction on this colossal renovation and contended with an extremely tight construction schedule to complete the work before the first kickoff of the NFL preseason. With the careful coordination of more than 30 electricians and technicians working simultaneously, our crew successfully completed this project in budget and a full 10 days ahead of schedule. Way to go everyone!
 
This was the first ABC Subcontractor Project of the Year for APG, but far from our first award. Over the years, our work has consistently shined at the Excellence in Construction Awards thanks to the high-level craftsmanship of our electricians, technicians, and project managers. Highlight awards in recent years include St. Joseph’s Hospital North (2011), USF Sun Dome Renovation (2013), Florida Polytechnic University (2015), St. Joseph’s Hospital Emergency Power Project (2015), and St. Joseph’s Hospital North (2015). These projects, in addition to several National Award winning projects from the Independent Electrical Contractors organization, have always been stacked against many other stunning and impressive submissions. The fact that we’ve won demonstrates the exceptional hard work of our dedicated and talented technicians who truly stand out in the industry.
 
We would like to thank our general contractor, design, and owner partners for trusting us to tackle these marquee projects. We also congratulate all of
our men and women who contributed to and continue to contribute to making these jobs a success. Looking ahead, APG is excited to have a number of high profile and challenging projects underway, including the Phase 2 Renovation of Raymond James Stadium. As we continue to grow, we strive to consistently provide excellence in performance and we look forward to showcasing several in-progress projects at the next Excellence in Construction Awards!
 

“I will miss my ‘sounding board,’ we both bounced project management issues, letter editing, and everyday stresses off each other for nearly 20 years. On really stressful days Scott is my go-to man! Wishing him an enjoyable retirement!”
 
“I have a tremendous level of respect and admiration for Scott.”
 
“Regardless of the length of our conversation, I always walk away with a smile on my face. His antics will certainly be missed. He has offered some good work advice as well, but I will always remember his goofy remarks.”
 
We owe you a huge debt of gratitude, Scott, for your 30 years of hard work and dedication. Your APG family wishes you a long and happy retirement!
 ​

The Falkenburg Jail emergency power system in Tampa was especially challenging because it required major reworking of the site electrical infrastructure with medium voltage cabling. APG provided a new 4-way utility switch and over 11,000 feet of 5” PVC to complete a connection of the new CEP building to the existing TECO utility. Two state-of-the-art 2,500kW 13.2kV bi-fuel generators were paralleled together with medium voltage switchgear to run seamlessly and shed loads as required to keep the most critical systems running. We furnished and installed a 15kV secondary unit substation to distribute power all over the existing campus, and coordinated multiple shutdowns with the Sheriff’s office to transfer power and minimize downtime for those in the nearby offices and buildings. Our field technicians were responsible for the intricate task of connecting the paralleling gear controls to the CEP Control Room panels so facility staff can easily monitor the system and control how it functions.
 
Working on an existing and expansive site presented many challenges, but the hard work of everyone involved has paid off. We’d like to extend a special thank you to the electrical engineer of record, Bob Rolley, for the top-notch quality of his design, and the entire Walbridge Construction Team for inviting us to partner with them on such an important project!
 
While the Falkenburg Jail was being finished, APG was awarded another hard-won emergency power system at an institutional facility: the Pinellas County Jail Infrastructure Upgrade. This extraordinarily unique project is different from anything we’ve done before in that it uses a 2,000kW co-generation natural gas generator to provide power for the entire facility 24 hours per day. Rather than running only in an emergency situation, this system runs almost constantly, only shutting down when its sophisticated controls determine that it would be cheaper to transfer to standard utility power. Infrastructure is being installed to accommodate a second 2,000kW generator, and the specialty gear required to parallel and control these two units will be installed in this phase along with two smaller generators for localized standby power. It’s hoped that the city will realize major savings in utility costs over the coming years, and work is well under way. We are truly grateful to the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, Moss Construction and OCI Associates for trusting APG to deliver this demanding and ambitious project!
 
Whether your facility’s emergency power system requires just one standalone generator or many paralleled together, APG has the experience, expertise, and dedicated technicians needed to get the job done right.

After years of hard work, APG was very excited to see the all new St. Joseph’s Hospital South campus in Riverview, Florida open in February of 2015. We played a major role in its construction as we provided all the electrical, fire alarm, and low voltage systems. Since that time, growth in the area has exploded, and with that growth has come an even greater demand for top-notch healthcare. To meet the needs of its current and future patients, BayCare took the initiative to turn over 26,000 square feet of shell space into 24 state-of-the-art patient care rooms. 

APG was brought on very early in the process and had the privilege of working directly with BayCare and Gresham Smith and Partners to design and bring to life many aspects of this project. APG Engineering began work back in 2014 and provided complete mechanical, electrical, plumbing, fire protection, and technology design services. One of our senior estimators, Jonathan Henley, worked with our team of engineers to find cost-saving solutions to logistical problems and keep the budget on track with regular updates to the Construction Manager, Barton Malow Company. 

Unlike a typical shell build-out where most infrastructure is already in place, this project required some challenging additions. When it was first built, the shell space was intended to eventually become a medical office suite, which didn’t require connections to the emergency power generators on site. Once it was decided that the shell area would become a fully-functional hospital wing, several new feeders had to be brought from the existing central energy plant for connection to critical power. The CEP is on the opposite end of the campus, and many new conduits had to be run up to 500 feet through the existing hospital.          You can imagine how difficult it was to install thousands of feet of conduit and wire and then connect to the existing emergency power system, all while keeping the building in operation! Fortunately, our previous experience at the site and our existing 3D BIM models made the process go as smoothly as possible. In addition to the electrical work, APG was again responsible for the fire alarm, structured cabling, and security systems, along with other low voltage tasks like telemetry cabling and television installation.
 
All five of our APG groups worked together to finish this project in budget and ahead of schedule. After teaming up for the original campus construction, we greatly appreciate having been selected by Barton Malow Company to be a part of this expansion. Their continued faith in our ethics and ability to perform are a direct result of the service they received from Project Manager Scott Riedy, Project Superintendent Leivy Avila, and our many talented field technicians. Congratulations to all of you on a job well done.