Self Performance
The Weitz Company is able to offer clients a wide variety of special services that most contractors have to hire out to a third party. Weitz craftsmen can often perform the detailed work themselves, saving time and money. Their commitment to self-performance is evident in the 145,560 square foot expansion Weitz built for Prairie Meadows Racetrack & Casino in Altoona, Iowa. This fast-track project had 13 areas of new construction that needed to be turned over to the client at different dates. Nearly every area of the project required extensive coordination with owner operations, gaming regulators, special events and owner deliveries.
The new structure also required high-end finishes throughout. The construction team often received the drawings one week before the work was to begin. Weitz’s skilled craftsmen delivered the standard of quality necessary without having to spend extra resources managing a third party. In fact, 20 percent of the work — including selective demolition, concrete foundations, finish carpentry, specialties installation, general cleanup and sidewalks — was self-performed. According to Weitz's Project Manager, “The ability to self-perform work allowed us to adapt to changes more fluidly, saving time and money for the client,”
The expansion included a 37,500 square foot multipurpose room with 25 foot-high ceilings; it can accommodate 800 to 1,200 people, and features custom chandeliers, a performance stage and special flooring. The gaming area was doubled in size to hold 500 slot machines and table games, as well as custom carpets, light trusses and a cashier’s cage. The kitchen required a major coordination effort so that all equipment had the correct connections for plumbing, electrical voltages and controls. The 300-seat buffet received special attention for its hardwood trims and scalloped buffet line; all of the buffet lines have custom granite countertops that needed extensive field measurements for precise fabrication. And the 100-seat steakhouse features custom millwork, custom carpets and custom booths.
Said Gary Palmer, President/CEO of Prairie Meadows Racetrack & Casino, “During the $50 million Prairie Meadows expansion, The Weitz Company team made the difference. Weitz was accessible, flexible and professional. Best of all, the project was completed on time and under budget. I appreciate our partnership.”