Courtesy F.H. Alexander, Inc.
By Susan Elise Campbell
F.H. Alexander, Inc., the Schaghticoke based commercial construction company, has a full docket for the summer.
Owner Frank Alessandrini said that over the course of business since 1991, his company has become known for building restaurants, convenience stores, and retail spaces, and for renovating hospitals, schools, libraries, and other business and medical spaces.
“But this year is a little bit unusual for us,” Alessandrini said. “We are doing more and smaller projects than in past few years.”
“This trend is not an overall indication of the general economy or the business,” he said. “It’s just what we have landed.”
Starting mid-May, there are two projects for COARC, the Columbia County chapter of The ARC NewYork. One is an addition and a renovation and the other is a smaller renovation, he said.
Also starting soon are some interior renovations for Greenwich Library.
“They are modernizing a number of rooms,” said Alessandrini. “We have done a half dozen projects for them over the years and they are a good customer.”
There have been other recent library projects. The company put a sizable addition onto the Valley Falls Library and did a project with Easton Library. Alessandrini said he has been working with Schaghticoke Library recently to secure a grant to move the entire library to the lot next door.
“The project is in the application and fundraising process,” he said. “They got the phase one funds to buy the lot, but they also need a grant to physically move the building.”
“The library building sits on a high bank that will ultimately slide into the Hoosick River,” he said.
Also underway is a fast food restaurant in Schenectady and crews are also working in Moreau and Glens Falls. Two Dunkin’ Donuts projects in Clinton County are also scheduled for summer.
“Summer will be busy and a little hectic for us,” he said.
F.H. Alexander has a tight-knit operation that Alessandrini said people enjoy working for.
“The people who stay, stay,” he said. “We generally only lose people to retirement.”
“We value independence but also expect people to respect the company,” he said. “It’s a smaller sized construction company but we have the infrastructure to do large projects.”
Whether a half-million dollar project or five to 10 million, the company aims to give “a better experience for our clients, and a better work environment for our employees.”
Alessandrini said his son, Frank H. Alessandrini IV, is on board as project manager and that the team is always on the lookout for skilled help.
Learn more at fhalexander.com.