Client Spotlight – Graphic Village
Accelerated Renovation Delivers State-of-the-Art Headquarters for Graphic Village
After initially acquiring Bramkamp Printing company in 2013, Graphic Village experienced rapid growth. Within six years, the company increased its workforce fivefold and gained a number of new capabilities. By early 2018, Graphic Village had become the Cincinnati region’s largest independent print-marketing company.
But while it offered comprehensive print, marketing, and fulfillment services under one figurative roof, the company’s operations were stretched between three facilities across greater Cincinnati. It was time to consolidate.
In mid-2018, Graphic Village’s leadership team found the perfect location: a 156,612 square foot industrial building in Blue Ash, Ohio. The catch: the building needed to be fully renovated in less than six months. Leases were coming due on the company’s three existing sites before the end of the year, and the clock was ticking.
Collaborating for success
Given the accelerated schedule, the Graphic Village team recognized that it needed to use a design/build approach. The team selected Miller-Valentine Construction (MVC) based on our demonstrated experience as a trusted guide. “We met the team from Miller-Valentine and were very comfortable with the group,” said Graphic Village Executive Chairman Eric Kahn. “We had an aggressive timetable, and we had faith they would deliver.”
The design/build approach allowed for in-depth collaboration with all stakeholders from the start. As a result, the project team was able to design, price and construct the building in tandem, eliminating months from the project schedule. In fact, demolition began before floor plans were even completed, and walls were built while mechanical, electrical and plumbing builds were being created.
Eliminating surprises
We know from experience that frequent and open communication is essential to eliminate surprises. With the Graphic Village project operating against such a tight timeline, there was no margin for error. The MVC project team met regularly with all stakeholders to keep the teams aligned and on task.
“Our project manager worked hand-in-hand with the MVC team,” said Kahn. “We were very aware of what was going on.”
The MVC team also connected with the City of Blue Ash early on to share project goals and address any concerns from the city. This upfront work helped ensure that submissions, inspections, and approvals followed a timely cadence.
Delivering the “print shop of the future”
As promised, MVC delivered the project on time and on budget, and Graphic Village moved into its new headquarters in November 2018. One year later, it has captured efficiencies that just weren’t possible while operating in three locations. In particular, the streamlined workflow has proven to be an advantage to customers and employees alike.
“Having everything under one roof is a huge benefit,” said Kahn. “Our customers have one point of contact here, and our project leads can literally walk through the building to manage the process.”
The new headquarters also enabled Kahn and his team to fulfill their vision of creating not just a home for their operations, but a destination that attracts talent and impresses clients. The building’s modern “West-coast” presence reimagines how a Midwestern manufacturing facility should look and feel.
“We wanted to create a space where people want to come and spend time; we want it to be a great place to work,” said Kahn. “We also wanted our customers to walk in and say ‘Wow, we want to do business with this company.’ And we’ve achieved that.”
The space has provided Graphic Village with a platform to be the most unique marketing execution company in the region. With its full capabilities under one roof, the nearly 100-year-old company is ready to usher in its next century of business.
“Miller-Valentine is very good at taking care of the customer and helping them achieve their needs,” said Kahn. “They deliver on what they say they are going to do.”
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