Moore Erection LP

Raising the Bar on Full-Service Steel for 25 Years

"Contractors trust Moore Erection LP for installing in their buildings the most basic structural material: steel.

Steel is all Moore does, but the company, based in San Antonio, offers steel any way that builders need it.

Whether plans call for structural steel, miscellaneous steel throughout the building or pre-engineered buildings, Moore is the bidder to beat. Today's jobs often call for a mixed-steel use and Moore is one of the few companies serving as a single source for two or three job requirements. The company is frequently called upon to assist designers combining structural steel and pre-engineered building systems.

"We've established a network of fabricators and found a niche," said Buzz Park, president. "Not too many erectors do all three."

The firm ranked 93 on Texas Construction's list of the state's top specialty contractors.

Moore is an employee-owned company hitting $5 to $7 million in volume per year. Its 60 employees include 10 field supervisors and three project managers.

Standard erectors build the structural steel for steel-framed buildings and help with poured-in-place concrete structures. Many supplement construction by assisting with the steel needs of stairs, rails, elevators and other internal structural elements.

Moore goes one step further by offering a specialty in pre-engineered building technology. Through a partnership with Ceco Building Systems, a leader in pre-engineered structures headquartered in Columbus, Miss., Moore offers design input, delivery clout and pricing breaks that are attractive to contractors.

In its 25th anniversary year, Moore Erection still operates with the founder's philosophy in place. Jim Moore built the company from its modest beginnings on the principles of quality, service and integrity.

In the early days, Moore's fledgling firm fabricated its own steel. While the material comes from suppliers today, the company's commitment, down to the quality of steel used, has helped it achieve a leadership position in steel erection industry of South Texas.

advertisement

Moore's enterprising approach was evident from the beginning. In the early 1980s, although pre-engineered buildings were new to the company, Moore's new estimator, Park, saw unique opportunities in the technology.

Today, pre-engineered structures account for approximately 60 percent of the company's overall work. Half its employees also are cross-trained to meet any construction need.

Park, who succeeded Moore as president in 1997, cites the pre-engineered segment of the business as an example of the company's comprehensive offering.

"We try to be a full-service steel company so we can do everything in the way of steel on the job," he said.

Moore's expertise in providing mixed uses of steel continues to add to its list of accomplishments.

Notable projects include the Austin City Hall; M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston; the 30-story Marriott Rivercenter hotel, San Antonio; the Majestic Theater renovation, Dallas; and USAA headquarters, San Antonio.

Moore backs up its commitment to quality with ground-level training and work oversight.

To meet ongoing training needs, the company has two staff members certified by the National Center for Construction Education and Research. In fact, Moore is the only steel erection company in Texas to have been awarded a grant by the state of Texas for its efforts in implementing the Associated Builders and Contractors nationally accredited training program known as The Wheels of Learning.

"The shortage of skilled construction workers is a problem that needs to be addressed immediately and the solution for us was to start our own training program," said Dallas Cloud, the firm's executive vice president.

The company has seen its employees' skill level and pay rise because of the professional education program. Moreover, the company has gained better trained workers and has noticed an overall improvement of the quality and speed of its work.

Both new hires and long-time employees must keep current with their training.

Moore is a certified advanced steel erector through the American Institute of Steel Construction. To back up its commitment to put well-trained workers in the field, the company manages a system in which contractors grade the quality of work under the leadership of Moore's project managers. Cloud said the scores are consistently high.

Greater on-the-job safety is one result of training. Its welders have to be retested and certified every six months. To that end, the company has its own safety director who works closely with OSHA and in partnership with the Associated General Contractors.

"One of the biggest aspects of today's market is the safety aspect, and we're proud to say our commitment to safety exceeds and surpasses industry standards," Cloud said.