R. E. Pierson Construction Co.

Vertical and diverse┬áR.E. PiersonÔÇÖs ever expanding range of construction and demolition capabilities has brought steady growth in revenues, expertise, and scope. Jaclyn Beck reports. In its heyday, the Sands Casino Hotel in Atlantic City, New Jersey offered top-name entertainment. Frank Sinatra played his final public concerts there in November 1994, but it was overtaken by more modern casinos and the site had to be cleared for redevelopment. When the Sands came crashing down on Thursday October 18, 2007, at least one eye witness was greatly impressed. ┬áÔÇ£It was awesome!ÔÇØ he said. ÔÇ£It came straight down and didnÔÇÖt touch that other building right next to it. These guys know what theyÔÇÖre doing.ÔÇØAmong the guys who knew what they were doing on that day was the Demolition Division of R.E. Pierson Construction Company, selected as the general demolition contractor. Although not responsible for the controlled explosions themselves, R.E. Pierson was responsible for overall site preparation activities, such as asbestos abatement, materials recycling and debris removal. Although this was the first such demolition seen on the East Coast, it is an example of the growing diversity and vertical integration experienced by R.E. Pierson in recent years.After first operating as a sole proprietor, president and CEO Richard Pierson incorporated the company in 1980. Since then it has expanded its area of operation from its New Jersey base into Delaware, Maryland, and southeastern Pennsylvania. Having cut its teeth on residential and commercial projects, the company expanded into retail and industrial site development, and soon started doing more work for local, county, state, and federal agencies. It is now equally at home with utility projects, including underground piping for sewer, drainage and water supply systems, highway and bridge construction, and environmental and ecological projects, such as wetlands mitigation, landfill construction, and waterway, pond and dam construction.Having demolition and construction under one roof, as it were, brings the benefits of increased efficiencies and cost savings through single-point contracting. The Demolition Division has grown steadily, filling key positions with some of the most experienced and respected demolition specialists in the country, which has enabled it to tackle a number of highly complex projects, including the dismantlement of the 38-story One Meridian Plaza office building in Center City Philadelphia, the Philadelphia Civic Center, the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard for Kvaerner and the Curries Woods 14-story apartment building in Jersey City, which included on-site recycling.The use of recycled materials in the construction industry is an ever-increasing ecological and economic necessity. While R.E. Pierson has recycled concrete and asphalt for years, this area has increased dramatically with the growth of its demolition operations and other activities. The company maintains a number of large primary and secondary crushers for the crushing of rock, concrete and asphalt rubble. Crushers, conveyors and other items of support equipment are typically able to be transported to a new site, set up and in operation within two days.Vertical integration is further enhanced by another member of the Pierson family of companies, R.E. Pierson Materials Corp., which is primarily engaged in the production of spec sand, stone, recycled aggregates, asphaltic paving materials and concrete. Natural sands, clays and aggregates are mined and processed to specification from various owned and leased sites throughout the tri-state area of New Jersey, Delaware and Pennsylvania and concrete and asphaltic paving materials are manufactured in state-of-the-art plants in various locations. As well as supplying materials for the parent companyÔÇÖs construction activities, the materials subsidiary acts as wholesaler/retailer to state, county and local governmental agencies as well as the private sector.Paving is another important part of R.E. PiersonÔÇÖs overall operations. In both the public and private sectors, a high percentage of its contracts include paving within the project scope. Pierson also performs paving services for other contractors and is often contracted by owners/ developers for paving new sites as well as milling & repaving older sites.ÔÇ£My vision for Pierson has always been to deliver timely, efficient and responsive services for our clients,ÔÇØ says Richard Pierson. ÔÇ£Looking to the future, my goals for Pierson are simple. They include continued diversification and growth, with particular attention to safety, quality, and efficiency.ÔÇØ ┬á