It was never a question of if, just when Gil Andres and his sons, Wade and Warren, were going to start a construction company.
After all, Gil Andres had been in construction since the 1950s and his sons had inherited their dad's passion. Both joined construction firms immediately upon graduation and quickly moved their way up.
The question of when, however, had to be postponed throughout the 1980s as Gil Andres helped the Henry C. Beck Company (which then evolved into HCB Contractors) capitalize on one of Dallas' most significant buildng booms. During that period, HCB Contractors built some major landmarks including Cityplace, Fountain Place, Bank One, the Galleria, and countless others.
But when the thunderous building boom fell silent in the late 1980s, Gil and Wade Andres felt the time was right. HCB Contractors would have time adjust to the loss of some key personnel and the new firm would have time to organize itself.
Wade Andres resigned from HCB, where he had risen to Assistant to the Dallas District Manager, in October 1990. Gil Andres ended his 13-year tenure as executive vice president of HCB Contractors in January 1991.
"I had become primarily an administrator," Andres remembers. "I was overseeing offices in Dallas, Houston, Indianopolis, and Chicago and was having to rely on countless people to deliver quality projects and to fulfill our corporate commitment. Only rarely did I have the opportunity to work directly with clients. I really missed that part of the business."
Dinah Hays, who had risen from a receptionist at the Henry C. Beck Company to become assisant to the executive vice president, joined Gil and Wade Andres at the new firm.
"Dinah is incredibly bright and dedicated," Gil Andres insisted. "She is a really strong character."
Shortly thereafter, Wayne Wilson, who had worked closely with Wade Andres as a project mananger on a project where HCB served as construction manager, also made the jump to the new firm.
"Wade was very impressed with Wayne when they worked together on the St. Mark's project," said Gil Andres. "He is super concientious and very results-oriented. He is driven to do the job right."
All of the founding members of the firm share a committment to construct quality buildings that offer their clients great long-term value.
"We really work on behalf of the client to deliver the aesthetic side and make it feasible," Gil Andres said. "We make sure the design works, and we watchdog the schedule, costs, constructibility, and long-term viability of each project."
Like his father, Wade enjoys solving construction problems.
"He is so totally dedicated and committed," said the senior Andres, "that sometimes I have to suggest that he spend a little less time working."
"But he is a real miracle worker at making things happen," he added, "and I don't think that is the father in me talking."
Tom Feather, who had worked for HCB Contractors in both Houston and Atlanta, joined the firm in 1992.
"I had come to know and appreciate Tom through our work together at HCB Contractors and was anxious for him to join our team," said Gil Andres. "He is a first-class construction professional and helped the firm immensely with his work on the Bank One Tower in Austin."
After working for Pace Construction (a division of HCB Contractors) in Florida, Warren Andres was hired by Disney in 1989 where he was intimately involved with projects like Celebration (a neo-traditional community) and constructing several hotels at Disneyworld.
In 1994, Warren joined his father and brother at Andres.
"Warren works very well with all kinds of people and he is dedicated to turning out great projects that work economically and serve the long-term interests of the owners," Gil Andres said.
Andres' growth has been supported by a select group of project managers, superintendents, and support staff who fulfill the firm's commitment to client satisfaction by delivering the highest quality projects on time and in budget.
Each construction pro at Andres shares the Andres mission of building quality buildings and lasting relationships.