Building Nevada - November 2001

The PENTA Building Group

The Las Vegas skyline is undergoing yet another change as The PENTA Building Group, Inc., began construction in June of a 26-story tower — the first phase of a Hilton Grand Vacations time-share project on Las Vegas Boulevard and Sahara. The new property, which will have four construction phases plus common areas, will have 1,200 total units upon completion, with four towers ranging from 26 stories to 43 stories. The $65 million first phase consists of the 283-unit tower and parking garage, along with all the property’s public areas. PENTA is performing project management services for the project, as well as serving as the general contractor and doing all concrete work. Completion of this phase is slated for 2003.

The PENTA Building Group was launched in May 2000 in Las Vegas. The three PENTA principals had all managed multi-million dollar projects throughout Clark County and the Southwest, and they decided to start their own commercial construction firm, building on their personal and professional reputations. Jeff Ehret (PENTA president), Ken Alber (PENTA vice president) and Blake Anderson (PENTA vice president) have significant experience and overlapping areas of expertise. Combined, they have amassed over 55 years of construction project experience, including large hotels and casinos, sports facilities, transportation-related facilities, and commercial, institutional and other general building projects. A substantial portion of their collective experience has been in Southern Nevada.

The PENTA Building Group provides general contracting, construction management, project management, construction consulting and design-build services to its clients. During its first year of operation, the firm secured over $100 million in construction contracts, primarily in the hospitality and gaming market in Southern Nevada. In addition to the Hilton Grand Vacations time-share contract, these projects include the new 35,000-square-foot Elemis Spa at the Aladdin Resort, project management services at the Park Towers high-rise and the complete renovation of 600 rooms at Bally’s Hotel Casino. Other contracts included project management services for the remodeling of a Red Lion Inn in Denver, consulting services for final inspections at the new Aladdin, design-build services for a restaurant renovation at Paris Hotel Casino and consulting services at Caesars Palace.

With the workload building and new contracts arriving, PENTA added over 20 full-time professionals to its operation. Employees include project managers, engineers, superintendents and support staff for concrete and other self-performed work. Such a large staff necessitated the move to a new, larger office just south of McCarran International Airport. In June, PENTA celebrated the opening of this new office, along with its first anniversary, by hosting over 250 industry professionals and associates.

Along with the Las Vegas headquarters, PENTA has a satellite office in Phoenix. Although the bulk of PENTA’s work is in Southern Nevada, clients satisfied with its work have extended new contracts for projects across the United States. Con-Way Transportation Services has contracted PENTA to provide construction management services for construction and renovation of its truck freight terminals nationwide. During the past year, four facilities have been completed and another four are underway.

"As we are well into our second year, our focus will remain on providing quality service while striving to keep projects on schedule and within budget. We strive to exceed our clients’ expectations at every opportunity," explained Ehret. "We’re proud of the team we’ve built here at PENTA. Our staff members are the critical component for everything we do and everything we aim to accomplish. We don’t forget that."