Gilston Electric, a subsidiary of Electra USA, was retained to support the Resorts World Casino New York City hotel expansion project by executing flawlessly after thoroughly preparing detailed engineering drawings. Preparing before executing helped Gilston Electric successfully carry out extensive electrical work throughout the construction project, and it demonstrated how a project should be run.
“One of the keys to success is doing our homework early on,” says Senior VP, John keane. “There are real advantages to starting as early as possible. It helps us meet our overall schedule deadlines while keeping our manpower at a consistent level. We also have the advantage of carrying out installations more efficiently; literally as the building is built.”
According to Alan Sparn, Executive Vice President of Plaza construction, “Plaza awarded the electrical subcontract on the 479,00 square foot Resorts World Phase II Expansion to Gilston Electric in the summer of 2018. The project included a 10 store 400 key Hotel, a 50,000 square foot casino expansion and 40,000 square feet of amenities space. While Plaza did not have an existing relationship with Gilston, we were comfortable with the proposed team’s experience and the resources available to execute the project. Gilston was a true partner on the project, working closely with the Plaza project team to deliver the project on schedule and within budget. “We look forward to working with Gilston on future projects.”
At the beginning of the project, Gilston installed raceways, enclosed conduits that created a physical pathway for electrical wiring before the concrete was poured rather than after each part of the building structure was completed.
“First we had our engineers pull together information and dimensions to map out details for the underground infrastructure and embedded raceways in the superstructure,” said Keane. “With that information, our field supervisors and electricians were able to get a head start on the project. We got to see the results of how well our field personnel and engineers did only after the interior walls and equipment were placed. Gilston achieved 99% accuracy in hitting the various walls and equipment throughout the building. We installed tens of thousands of feet of raceways efficiently and ahead of schedule.”
“The benefits of starting a project of this magnitude early on are huge,” he continued. “We increased our efficiency, used less manpower, spent less on materials and cut down project time. All thanks to our ground work at the outset. It was a win-win situation for Gilston and the general contractor, Plaza Construction.”
By approaching the project in this manner, Gilston did not have to wait for the other trades to complete their part. This gave Gilston more control over its team while allowing them to move on to the next stages of work at their pace.
“We were always ahead of the other trades and in control, which translated to fewer onsite workers,” said Danny Fiorello, General Foreman for the Resorts World project. “In fact, even after one of the major trades defaulted in the middle of the project, it barely affected us, since we had already taken care of our part.”
The Resorts World project featured a 470,00 square foot expansion of New York City’s only casino located in Queens. The project was executed in numerous phases, allowing the casino to continue operating during the construction of the adjacent 400-room hotel. Gilston won the $41 million electrical work contract in 2018, and quickly began building. The company completed work on expanding the casino’s gaming floor in 2019, before moving on to the new hotel construction, which included an expansive grand entrance, redeveloped landscape and renovated parking. In addition to opening the door to the new construction market, the Resorts World project demonstrated Gilston’s elevated teamwork.
“The project showed how we joined forces and worked as one team throughout all aspects, from the bidding stage, through materials purchasing and engineering work to onsite execution,” added Fiorello.
The project offered Gilston an opportunity to showcase the company’s diverse skill set and expertise to Plaza Construction, with whom it had never worked with.
“From an electrical standpoint, the Resorts World project included just about the entire scope, from high voltage, underground infrastructure and raised floor cabling, to embedded raceways, high-end lighting and associated lighting controls,” said Fiorello.
The Resorts World Project is a real testament to what Gilston Electric can do with skilled management, engineering and field capabilities.
About The Electra Group
The Electra Group was founded in 1945. It is traded on the TASE and included in the TA-35 Index, and specializes in four core fields: construction, infrastructure, and electromechanical contracting; operation & maintenance of industrial, infrastructural, commercial, and real estate projects and facilities; initiation & development of real estate projects; concessions relating to infrastructure & national projects. Turnover: Approx. US$3 billion. Backlog: Approx. US$8 billion. Employees: Approx. 14,000.
Electra’s constant growth and diversification are driven by its dedicated lifecycle approach – a unique business model that encompasses every stage of the construction and development process. The Group currently operates in 4 continents and 17 countries, and has recently taken several major strategic steps into new fields and territories. Electra’s new subsidiary Electra USA has acquired three well-established New York companies, positioning the Electra Group at the forefront of a major electromechanical contracting market with projects worth hundreds of millions of dollars. In addition, Electra has entered the world of transportation by acquiring control of three prominent companies – Afikim, Amnon Mesilot, and Egged-Taavura – and uniting them under the new Electra Afikim brand, which will operate public, private, and institutional transport services throughout Israel.
Electra manages thousands of large-scale turnkey construction and infrastructure projects from concept to completion, including electromechanical system installation, as well as long-term management and operational services. By harnessing the strategic synergy between its comprehensive, complementary areas of activity, the Group is able to deliver an optimal service portfolio customized to each customer’s precise needs, with complete quality control, budgetary, and scheduling oversight.
As traditional construction enters a groundbreaking new era, Electra reliably rises to the challenge and thrives in competitive markets thanks to its unique activity matrix, alongside the Group’s firm commitment to continual reinvention. Building on extensive M&A experience, coupled with a creative, outside-the-box perspective, Electra pushes the boundaries of innovation by investing in promising new sectors, such as smart technology. This bold approach has defined Electra’s industry-leading position for over 75 years.
