The Tribune

A Bahamian engineering company has met with the Oklahoma City-based developer of Star Building Systems to discuss expansion throughout the Caribbean.

TMC Engineering president, Lee McCoy, visited the Star Buildings headquarters to meet key players involved in the design, estimating and management of metal building sales.

TMC is the only authorised Star Building Systems distributor in Nassau. It completed its largest project to-date last year, and has signed another contract to build an even larger complex.

The Bahamian Brewery & Beverage Company hired TMC as general contractor to complete its new office, warehouse and retail space on Nassau Street. The almost 10,000 square foot building was a mix of conventional construction, a steel clearspan frame and metal wall, and roof sheeting.

The architects, Bruce LaFleur & Associates, designed the building with an attractive front appearance, combining utility with beauty. Owner Jimmy Sands requested the front facade be one of the Sands Beer signature colours, and a red one was created.

As the Sands warehouse was being completed, TMC also bid on, and won, the Corky Holdings warehouse facility being built on Gladstone Road. The 64,000 square foot facility is comprised of a main floor warehouse and a smaller two-storey section for the company offices.

The architects, Plan It Bahamas, designed the building to save on operating costs. The insulated metal wall panels, combined with the insulated roof system, decrease cooling costs significantly. The building is also outfitted with skylights to save on interior lighting during operating hours, and options for solar power are currently being discussed.

The interior partition walls, freezer and cooler panels will be constructed using the same insulated panels as the exterior, only using a different thickness.

The general contractor, Mosko’s United Construction Company, has already started site works, and TMC Engineering will begin steel erection in April, with a tentative completion date of September 2014.

TMC submitted three projects to the 2013-2014 Star Master Builder competition, which takes place yearly to honour outstanding projects in the metal building industry.

The Executive Motors complex on Wulff Road was submitted for automotive facility; the Sands warehouse was submitted for the small commercial category; and the Multi Auto Parts & Accessories Company renovation on Collins Avenue was submitted under the retrofit category. The winners will be determined by a board of Star Buildings-appointed judges and announced in March.

TMC said it had hired a new project manager for 2014, in a bid to expand its current operations and begin sales and installations throughout the Caribbean.

Star Building Systems’ representative, Chad O’Neal, had the following to say: “TMC Engineering is one of Star Building Systems’ premier builders in the Caribbean.

‘The relationship between TMC and Star was initiated in June 2001 under the leadership of Terrance McCoy, and proved to be mutually beneficial. TMC had great success introducing the Star Building Systems product in the Caribbean.

“With Terrance’s passing in 2006, his son Lee McCoy took over the leadership role within TMC,m and has continued the tradition of excellence and quality. Under the leadership of Lee McCoy, TMC Engineering and Star Building Systems will continue to build on the successful relationship they currently enjoy.”