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In order for a family construction business to survive eight decades and three generational transitions, it takes a great deal of perseverance. In the case of Picone Construction Corp., the general contracting firm benefits from a marketplace rife with clients who realize what it takes to keep the family legacy going.

“Many times our private clients are other family-owned companies,” says Chris Picone, vice president and half of the fourth generation of the Picone family leadership with Anthony C. Picone, vice president and general superintendent. Anthony J. Picone – president of Picone Construction since 1977 – represents the third generation of the Picone family leadership.

“There are a lot of family oriented businesses here, and they all can relate to what it takes to succeed as a family business.”

Picone Construction has made a name for itself by not focusing on a specific niche or building type. Instead, for 80 years, the company has served all markets as a commercial construction professional in the Buffalo region itself, ac­cording to Picone.

“We have served all markets here be­cause we’re more of a local contractor,” he explains. “If we went outside the region or the state, we might have a niche or type. But we like to say we don’t have a type. We’ve done everything from churches to industrial warehouses and everything in between.”

Picone Construction was founded in 1931 by Charles Picone. Today, with headquarters in Wil­liamsville, N.Y. – a suburb of Buffalo – and plans to move to a new office this year, the company provides general construction, construction management and design/build project services to clients throughout the western New York area.

The company has delivered work in the commercial, industrial, medical, financial, retail, recreational, distribution, religious and educational markets.

As a general contractor, Picone Con­struction typically self-performs demolition, carpentry, concrete foundations and specialty installations. Picone says the company can also handle site work, walks and curbs, drywall, acoustical ceilings and painting if needed in special cases. When it subs out its work, Picone says sub–contractors in the area like working with the company because of its longevity and ethics.

“We’ve been dealing with a few of our subs for 80 years – some are older than us and we’re still working with them,” Picone stresses. “We have a great reputation around here for being a good general contractor.”

“In the field, we’re very hands-on and always have a superintendent on site,” he adds. “Jobs don’t just run themselves.”

Later this year, the company will move into its new headquarters in Clarence, N.Y., to double its office space to 8,000 square feet. Moving to this location will give Picone Construction more access to the Batavia and Rochester, N.Y., areas.

“We would like to expand our services into the public construction management sector and complete more design/build projects in the future,” Picone says. “We’ll also be expanding our territory into Rochester or even Erie [Pa.], as well as traveling down either east or west on [Interstate] 90. 

“We’re always looking for more clients to provide our time-tested commercial construction services to.”

Design/Build Trend

Picone Construction displayed its de­sign/build capabilities recently when it delivered a two-story office building for DeRonde Tire in Buffalo. The 5,500-square-foot structure cost under $850,000 to design and construct. It is adjacent to the owner’s existing 130,000-square-foot tire distribution facility.

The fact that DeRonde Tire trusted Picone Construction to manage the design phase as well as the construction phase speaks volumes about the faith the owner had in its contractor. As a result, Picone says his company was able to include many cost-saving ideas into the design as well as value engineer more cost-savings with the subs prior to starting construction. For example, Picone Construction saved money for the owner by completing underground utility investigations which led to changing the location the owner originally selected for the building. This cost savings allowed the owner to use more money on their wish list items which made them extremely happy.

“We helped them figure out how to obtain their best building within their original budget – we were even able to include extras they did not think the original budget would allow them to have – that’s how we created more value for this client,” Picone says.