Rudolph Libbe Group, the Toldedo, Oh.-based full-service contracting firm, recently welcomed guests to the grand opening of a retrofitted facility, from which it will service
customers throughout Northeast Ohio and beyond.
The Group had occupied a facility in Independence, Oh., but made the move further west for logistical reasons.
Situated on two properties in the Mills Industrial Parkway in the city of North Ridgeville, the Rudolph Libbe Group has proceeded with retrofitting three buildings, with more than 60,000 sq.ft. for offices, warehousing and sheet metal/piping fabrication. The fabrication center is scheduled to open in spring 2019.
Rudolph Libbe Properties, one of the Rudolph Libbe Group companies, selected the site and financed the project to handle company growth in both work and personnel.
“We were deliberate in our site selection process,” said Dave Boyer, Rudolph Libbe Group general manger, Northeast Ohio operations. “North Ridgeville checked all the boxes for us, from staging requirements to utility needs.
The location’s access to interstates is also a strong feature that will allow us to maintain responsiveness to our customers across the region.”
Rudolph Libbe Group received a 10-year tax abatement from North Ridgeville for property improvements.
The Rudolph Libbe Group — founded in 1955 — has been active in Northeast Ohio for more than 10 years, over three locations. Steady growth led to its relocation from Westlake to Independence, as it expanded into structural steel, process piping, electrical, HVAC and plumbing and energy services for the chemical, metals and automotive industries. The firm employs 1100 people as far as upstate New York.
“With our continued growth, the need for a new facility capable of matching both the volume and culture of the organization is a priority,” Boyer said. “It will accommodate our associate recruitment and training needs and provide collaborative work spaces to serve our customers best.”
RLG has additional offices in Walbridge, Oh., Lima, Oh., and Plymouth, Mich. The Northeast Ohio team includes 25 full-time employees and 150 field employees. The organization intends to double the Northeast Ohio workforce within the next five years.
The office was designed by the AoDK architectural firm, and incorporates light, exposed and fluid elements.
“RLG expressed how essential collaboration was to its work, so we incorporated central group meeting areas with smaller huddle rooms off of a primary spline, similar to the way interaction in historical European cities was planned,” said David Krebs, president, AoDK.
The facility serves as an interactive demonstration of the Rudolph Libbe Group’s Design/Build expertise and self-perform trade service capabilities. Its design features exposed ceilings, welded steel beams, HVAC and ductwork, signifying pride in the quality of work the company provides.
Retrofitting the structure required converting 80 percent of the former warehouse into the single-elevation office space. An entirely new façade combined with new insulation, windows and doors boosts daylight harvesting and energy efficiency.
“This is an exciting time for the RLG. I’m really proud of our team in Northeast Ohio,” said Bill Rudolph, Chairman, Rudolph Libbe Group. “We’ve had a great track record of performing at a high level for our customers and we’re really proud of what we’ve accomplished. Our Cleveland-based team is critical to the long term success of the Rudolph Libbe Group.
Rudolph spoke about RLG’s commitment to safety: “The first attribute our customers and RLG care about is safety. Making sure our associates complete their work safely each day and can return home to their families, is our first responsibility," he said.
As of May 29, Rudolph Libbe Group was nearing 5 million man hours worked without a lost time injury