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From the "Thru The Green"
The Golf Course Superintendents Associates of Northern California
Vol. 03 No. 10, October 2002
DBD Structures Streamlines Turf Care Facility Development |
October 2002 |
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| Brian Gaunce, President of DBD Structures |
By Kenneth Williams, CGCS
DBD Structures, a GCSANC Affiliate Member and design/build general contractor specializing in the design, permitting and construction of golf course turf care facilities is our Lead Sponsor for this year's Superintendent's Institute, November 4th and 5th in Santa Cruz. Ken Williams recently sat down with Brian Gaunce, President of DBD Structures to learn more about Brian, the Company and their involvement with GCSANC.
| Ken: |
The GCSANC appreciates DBD Structures' involvement with the Association. What made you decide to provide lead sponsorship for the Superintendent's Institute this year? |
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| Brian: |
Since DBD Structures joined the Association we have been very impressed with both the high quality of the organization and the warm reception we have received from the members. We have participated as a minor sponsor at previous events including last year's Institute, where I was a speaker, and we wanted to do something to assist the Association in a more substantial way. Sponsoring the Superintendent's Institute is a great opportunity to acknowledge the support the members of the Association have given us. |
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| Ken: |
Tell me about DBD Structures. How long has the Company been in business? |
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| Brian: |
Well first off, perhaps I should tell you a bit about myself. I was raised and educated in Canada where I received a degree in Civil/Structural Engineering from Queen's University in 1982. After emigrating to the Bay Area in 1983, I worked for a structural engineering firm and two large general contractors until 1987. I formed DBD Structures in late 1987 and we have grown the Company from there.
DBD Structures offers both General Construction and Project Management services. Our mission is the consistent delivery of project excellence through our commitments to professionalism, honesty and attention to detail.
Our abilities include seismic/structural upgrades, ground-up buildings, tenant improvements, building redevelopment and specialty projects. Our project experience includes the redevelopment of the 750,000 SF Townsend Center and seismic upgrade of 625 Market Street, both in San Francisco and the ground-up construction of a 60,000 SF warehouse building for Frito-Lay in Alameda.
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| Ken: |
How did DBD Structures become involved in the design and construction of golf course turf care facilities?
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| Brian: |
Our involvement traces back to a call I received from Walt Barret at Greenhills Country Club in Millbrae back in 1997. DBD Structures is a dealer for Star Building Systems and Walt responded to a flyer we sent out promoting Star buildings for golf course turf care facilities. We supplied and erected the building for Greenhills, which won Star's 2000 Master Builder Award by the way, and things have expanded from there.
Turf Care Facilities are a perfect project type for our Company. They work best as design/build projects, they are a great application of our Star Building Systems product, they are relatively complex (particularly when you consider the hazardous materials used and waste streams generated by the facility), the project size is a comfortable fit for the Company and we get to work with a great group of customers…the superintendents of the GCSANC!
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| Ken: |
What projects does DBD Structures have on the go today?
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| Brian: |
We are particularly pleased to have recently received a design/build contract award from Lou Tonelli and the Lake Merced Golf and Country Club for their new 10,000 SF Turf Care Facility and 1.0 million gallon Irrigation Water Storage Tank for well water and tertiary treated waste water. We started design on the Project last week. We have several other projects in the pipeline, however we can't discuss these yet.
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| Ken: |
You have mentioned "design/build" several times…What exactly does design/build mean?
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| Brian: |
Design/Build is a process where the contractor is completely responsible for the design, permitting and construction of the Project. Design/Build streamlines the development cycle, improving the functionality and quality of the project while saving both time and money for the customer. This method also provides a single point of contact and responsibility for the customer…so there isn't any "finger-pointing" between the design team and the contractor if things aren't going right. The majority of our project personnel are degreed engineers or architects, with many years of construction experience, so we are particularly qualified to deliver projects using the design/build method.
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| Ken: |
How is your golf game?
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| Brian: |
Well…I golfed every day, all summer long as a teenager in Northern Canada, but I'm just getting back to it as an adult. So I would have to say that I've got a lot of work ahead of me!
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| Ken: |
Any last thoughts?
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| Brian: |
I just want to take this opportunity thank the members of the GCSANC for their generous support of DBD Structures. It is a pleasure to be able to acknowledge this support by sponsoring the Institute this year. Man-Yin Tang, Jim Aude, Greg Vicas, Jim Strickland and I will all be attending the event, it will be a great program and we look forward to seeing all of you there!
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