Perry-McCall Construction says The University of Florida Proton Therapy Institute, located in Jacksonville, Fla., was one of the most complex projects in the Southest.

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In 1989, after spending nearly eight years gaining the required knowledge and experience at Charles R. Perry Construction in Gainesville, Fla., Wayne McCall knew it was time to break out on his own. McCall, who earned his degree in building construction from the University of Florida, said he had a strong desire to go into business for himself after successfully completing multiple projects from estimating through project management.

When the company learned of McCall’s aspirations, “[owner Charles R.] Perry decided that he wanted to continue working with me, rather than potentially compete against me, so we decided to go into business together,” McCall explains.

The newly formed company’s first project paved the way for its future successes. The company was one of four contractors that bid for a parking structure at the University of Florida’s Shands Healthcare Center in Jacksonville, Fla. Although the company was not the lowest bidder, McCall received a phone call from the facilities director three weeks later. “He asked if we were still interested in doing the project, and I said of course, but I was confused, since we weren’t the lowest bidder,” McCall says. “However, it turned out that we were the lowest legitimate bidder. The other companies didn’t bid for plans and specs so, ultimately, we won the project.”

Focus on Healthcare
The Jacksonville-based general contractor performs work in government, healthcare and education segments throughout Florida. Most recently, Perry-McCall is building upon its niche as a leader in educational and healthcare laboratory construction, having delivered multiple state-of-the-art research laboratories and teaching facilities throughout northeast Florida in the past two years.

One of these projects is the $9.2 million Science Consortium Building at St. Johns River Community College in Orange Park, Fla. This project was one part of four separate science laboratory and teaching facilities constructed on community college campuses throughout Florida. It is designed to support a number of science and health-related programs, mainly natural sciences and nursing programs.     

Healthcare has been a mainstay for Perry-McCall. In addition to its recent laboratory projects, Perry-McCall completed one of its most demanding healthcare projects in its 19-year history. The University of Florida Proton Therapy Institute, located on the Shands campus in Jacksonville, is the fifth facility of its kind in the United States, and can treat up to 150 cancer patients per day via traditional radiation and advanced proton therapy. “This is perhaps the most complex construction project built in the Southeast,” says McCall.

Planning Ahead
When the company is faced with the challenges of rising material costs, it has a solid plan in action. “Our reputation gives us the ability to carefully plan ahead for the rise in material prices by working with reliable subcontractors that can lock in the costs of materials and equipment before costs rise significantly,” McCall says. Perry-McCall maintains solid relationships with subcontractors throughout the course of a project. “We have an outstanding relationship with our subs,” McCall explains. “The key to keeping a good relationship going is to pay them on a timely basis. We pay them on the 10th of every month, which our competitors do not do. This is important, because when [companies] pay subs regularly, [they] get the best effort, and receive a better-quality finished project.”

As a result of the strong relationships the company has built, Perry-McCall has never been involved in a lawsuit with subcontractors, owners or architects, McCall says. “This is extremely rare in the industry,” he asserts. “I think we’ve been able to do this by working with highly regarded owners and subcontractors, who we know will be reliable.”

Before accepting a project, the company ensures that the owner shares its corporate goals and philosophy. “We always want to know their history and how experienced they are in the industry,” McCall says. “Basically, we just want to make sure they’re reputable folks who share the same common goals as Perry-McCall.”