Project Profile: INEOS Laboratory and Office Renovation
Client Representative: Tim Mandilakis, JLL
Location: Crosby Township, OH
Scope: 63,000 SF state-of-the-art laboratory and office facility
Delivery Method: Preconstruction + Construction Management
Construction Partner: Miller Valentine Construction
When INEOS set out to build a highly technical laboratory and office facility in a warehouse shell not originally suited for this kind of use, they needed a team capable of turning complexity into certainty. That’s exactly what they got with Miller Valentine Construction.
“Overall, it was excellent work,” said Tim Mandilakis, who led the project on behalf of JLL and INEOS. “The Miller Valentine team was dedicated to the project, and it was evident by the success in meeting our schedule.”
Miller Valentine was brought on during the preconstruction phase and worked closely with the design team to finalize budgets and constructability solutions in parallel with design. Tim noted that the early involvement was critical: “We had a very tight schedule. I leaned on the Miller Valentine team to work in harmony with the design progression. Their ability to price the project in real time and help shape design decisions made the execution far more efficient.”
Despite challenges, including installing complex MEP systems in a warehouse-style building, coordinating construction during a divestiture, and working through delayed equipment deliveries due to a Florida hurricane, the team delivered a high-performing facility with precision and professionalism. “This wasn’t a $300 million project, but it was extremely complex. What made it difficult was the building we were constructing in, not the project itself,” said Tim.
Construction phasing was also a critical success factor. The team developed a tailored plan to support INEOS’s relocation across Columbus and to allow them to begin operations while construction was still ongoing – no easy feat in a lab environment. “The ingenuity and planning that went into the phasing schedule allowed us to stay on track and hit our milestones,” said Tim.
Beyond the technical execution, Miller Valentine’s team culture stood out. “Too often, you get the right contractor, but the wrong team on the field. That wasn’t the case here,” said Tim. “The people Miller Valentine put on the job, from Ken and Kevin to Andy and the extended field team, were educated, experienced, and compassionate. They didn’t just want to get in and out. They owned the schedule and got us across the finish line.”
Even as the project closed out, Tim appreciated Miller Valentine’s partnership mentality. “The Miller Valentine team delivered exactly what they promised, even when challenges arose, they kept the best interest of the client front and center, without cutting corners. That’s what made the difference.”
INEOS Enterprises is a global market leader in intermediate chemicals and specialty composites, solvents, and pigments.