As I write this letter, we are just past mid year, and by all accounts, the industry is booming. In fact, just the other day we were celebrating that we have a warehouse to build while we thought “what a treat that will be!”

That’s right….. a warehouse! I looked back at our last 20 projects and this is the only warehouse in the bunch.

What does this mean? Has my marketplace come full circle? Did we finally get what we have been working toward for the last ten years? What are we doing? Let’s take a look.

10 Years Ago                            Today

Multi Unit Strip Commercial ……………………6 ………………………… 20

Automotive Facilities…………………………….4………………………….20

Offices……………………………………………..3 ………………………… 20

Maintenance Facilities ………………………….2…………………………..20

Manufacturing ……………………………………..2………………………….20

Specialty ………………………………………….2…………………………..20

Warehouses ……………………………………….1………………………….20

Some may look at these figures and conclude that there isn’t much warehouse construction in my market or even that I just don’t win many of these projects. Their glass is half empty. Others may see this as an indication that Tilt-Up is an accepted tool for commercial and light industrial construction for more than just warehouses, and their glass is half full.

One thing I continue to hear from builders, designers and building owners is that customers always like the final product. If this is true, then every time another building use chooses Tilt-Up, it stands to reason that there will be another advocate for our construction method. TCA members already know that Tilt-Up is not just for warehouses anymore! Your marketplace will tell you when they believe it too. The numbers just speak for themselves.

And what do I think of these numbers? I think that as each market matures, the opportunities are there to make Tilt-Up the preferred construction method through performance, innovation and creativity. All of this because somebody needed a warehouse.

I think we need some more glasses! See you in Denver.

Laurence Smith, P.Eng. President

TCA Board of Directors