Harrington Electric Co.
Untitled Document
100 years of competence
Harrington Electric Co. has gotten to where it is thanks to its expertise,
outstanding service and strong, long-term relationships.
Harrington Electric Co. was founded by William Harrington 100 years ago
as a traditional electrical contracting firm, making it the oldest electrical
contractor in Cleveland. But along with that proud tradition and reputation
for excellence, it also stays on the leading edge of emerging technologies
and delivery systems. Today, it is under the direction of Thomas A Morgan,
P.E., president, and his brother Jim Morgan Jr., MBA, executive vice president
and CFO. Their father, James Morgan, Sr., purchased the firm in 1971 from
George and Al Fuerst (the successors to the Harrington family) and served
as its CEO until 2006. Jim Jr. came on in 1976 and Tom in 1978.
Learn from peers
One key to Harrington Electric Co.'s history of success can be found
in the relationships the firm has created. The senior Morgan's experience
as national vice president of the National Electrical Contractors Association
led to an important alliance for Harrington, its membership in the Federated
Electrical Contractors (FEC), a group of 34 member companies in different
parts of the country (also Canada, England, and Japan). They meet three
times each year as a peer group to share ideas, best practices, financials
and other topics. Themed meetings keep members constantly learning, while
members also find ways of tapping into joint ventures and other new business
in other areas.
Harrington, for instance, recently partnered with Triangle Electric Company
on a large project at the Chrysler Twinsburg plant. "We performed an
amazing amount of work in less than three months, with Harrington providing
labor and Triangle handling materials and contract administration,"
says Morgan. Harrington has also shared its long-term relationship with
Dillard's by introducing four FEC contractors in other cities to their valued
customer.
According to Morgan, this Northeast Ohio area has some of the country's
best electrical contractors, wiremen, and technicians, with a top-notch
training center deemed the best in the country and a strong partnership
between the union and contractors. "The Cleveland construction community
is a high-level, mature one, with business built on real relationships and
not on price alone," says Morgan. To help maintain these relationships,
he participates on several boards, including those of the Builders Exchange,
NECA, and MidTown Cleveland.
Plan for success
Harrington has been working on building a future as solid as its past,
by engaging in a collaborative strategic planning process designed to leverage
its strengths. That future will specialize on some of Harrington's greatest
strengths: the extra effort and knowledge that go into entertainment and
performing arts venues as well as high-tech buildings like research and
healthcare facilitiesit was named the Cleveland Clinic Foundation's
Contractor of the Year in 2004 for its excellence in service. Says Morgan,
"We will just keep doing what we do best, concentrating not on making
a splash, but on the reliable service and craftsmanship we've demonstrated
over our history and keeping up with the newest techniques for the future."
BXM
Taking on a challenge
Harrington regards all assignments as "bread and butter" projects,
but it is especially proud of dealing with the complexity of performing
arts/entertainment venues and high-tech installations, with their unique
challenges.
Performing arts and
entertainment venues
Severance Hall: The 1999 addition and refurbishment of one of
Cleveland's crown jewels is among Harrington's proudest accomplishments.
Working under the construction management of Panzica Construction Company,
Harrington upgraded and modernized all electrical and communication systems
within this outstanding performing arts center.
Allen Theater: One of the Playhouse Square historic renovations,
this project with GSI Architects and Turner Construction Company as CM included
new electrical service and distribution, theatrical lighting, state-of-the-art
audio, tele/data, security and other systems, a challenge in this revamped
work of art.
Idea Center at Playhouse Square: This was a very complex project
where Harrington teamed up with joint venture partner, Atlas Electric Company.
Under the construction management leadership of Turner Construction Company,
Harrington and Atlas brought the best of both companies together to produce
a high quality installation. Using the creative talents of two architectural
firms, URS and Westlake Reed Leskoski, the project included the renovation
of 1375 Euclid Avenue (now known as Idea Center) and high-tech studios and
control rooms for 90.3 FM (WCPN) and television Channel 25 (WVIZ).
Jacobs Field: Harrington is proud to perform work on power distribution,
lighting, video, sound, voice, data, and point-of-sale systems at the Jake.
A project recently completed was Heritage Park, just over the center field
homerun fence".
University School Auditorium: A project with The Albert M. Higley
and Van Auken Akins Architects LLC, the 35,000-sf addition to the school
included a cornerstone 1,200-seat auditorium with theatrical lighting, sound
reinforcement and integrated controls, as well as recording rooms.
Amistad Chapel: With design by Centerbrook Architects and Planned
Environmental Design, and Building Improvements as CM, this assembly area
at the national headquarters of the United Church of Christ is designed
to reflect the story of the Amistad revolt, part of early church history,
with special lighting and dimming system.
High-tech
Cable and Wireless USA: This project in the Sterling Building
by K.T. Associates and Turner Construction Co. is one of many Harrington
telecommunications sites, typically fast-track and requiring a heavy emphasis
on redundant power distribution, standby power, fiber optic backbones and
good security and fire protection. The growing field demands excellent workmanship.
Qwest: This 56,000-sf telecom hotel by Middough Assoc. and built
by Infinity Construction Company, needed a large power capacity, a large
fiber pipeline, conditioned space, and racking for cable management as part
of a fast-growing communications market.
Pioneer Standard Electronics: Creating a state of the art world
headquarters for this leading tech company (now known as Agilisys) meant
electrical demolition, new construction, fire and security systems, and
voice/data cabling for high speed conferencing capabilities. The project
was designed by Henning Architecture and construction managed by The Bolton
Pratt Company.
Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland: Designed by HOK and construction
managed by the joint venture of M.K/Torcon. Spanning a 3-1/2 year schedule,
this project was the largest Harrington ever performed. The project included
a new electrical service entrance, four 1000kW emergency generators, top-secret
security systems, voice and data cabling and more for a new 8-level annex
and renovation of the entire existing facility.
Bedford Municipal Center: Designed by Bowen & Associates and
construction managed by Project and Construction Services, Inc., this project
included a new city hall, justice center, police department and fire department
serving Bedford and surrounding communities.
Healthcare
University Hospital's Wolstein Research Institute: A research
facility, another joint venture with Atlas Electric Company, with a variety
of challenging work to service the scientific and medical research functions.
This 9-level, 500,000 s.f. facility features animal research vivarians and
extensive, cutting edge laboratory space.
University Hospital Westlake: by GSI Architects and Turner Construction
Co., in an ambulatory care center with a linear accelerator for oncology
treatment and other medical specialty devices, with Harrington handling
electrical and tele/data systems.
Lifeworks of Southwest General Hospital: With design by Ohlson
LaVoie Corp. and construction management by The Albert M. Higley Co., offers
a variety of lighting products to augment the fitness center, as well as
several electrical and telecommunications features.
Kaiser Permanente: This long-time client of Harrington is a major
health care provider, whose variety of healthcare facilities use Harrington's
construction and maintenance capabilities. Most KP projects were under the
construction management of The Bolton Pratt Company.
Retail and other
Dillard's: Harrington Electric Co. has participated in several
Dillard's project in the last 25 years, from ground-up construction, additions,
renovations and upgrades. It works with Bragg's Electric Construction Company,
which sets national standards for the chain.
Acacia Country Club: was a design/build project with Marous Brothers
Construction Co. This fast track project involved the demolition of an existing
clubhouse and design and construction of a new clubhouse and cart barn,
with no interruption to golfers!
Crate and Barrel: This Legacy Village store had Harrington performing
all the electrical and low voltage work, with the company being asked to
participate in the building of the store at Columbus' Easton Town Center
by construction manager, The Beck Group, out of Atlanta, GA.
Richmond Town Center: Performed under Drake Construction Company
for owner, DeBartolo, Harrington handled all electrical work for this mall
renovation. Harrington also performed complete mall renovations at Great
Northern and Parmatown. BXM
A variety of services
Harrington handles electrical construction, service, design/build, voice/data/video
& emerging technologies.
"It is a challenge in this business to stand out among the competition
for the value that you bring," says Harrington president Tom Morgan.
"Commercial construction is so competitive today that companies cannot
rely on construction work alone and must diversify." This, Harrington
has done, and in spades. In the 1990s, it created its VDV Department to
handle structured voice and data cabling, fiber optics, sound and paging
systems, RF, broadband and CATV, CCTV, security and fire alarms, system
integration, and other leading edge technologies. Harrington can now serve
customers with national roll-outs in seven states other than Ohio. One comprehensive
communication systems project was the Cleveland Browns Stadium electrical
communications packages: sound, broadcast, TV broadband, CATV, intercom,
fire alarm, all security systems, and the raceways and cable tray for all
these.
Service with a smile
Another area of diversified expertise was developed based on Jim Morgan
Sr.'s service with the National Electrical Contractors Association. Says
Morgan. "Because of our outstanding reputation, we were approached
by the TEGG Service Corporation (which offers an exclusive predictive and
preventive maintenance service program) to become its franchise contractor
in seven counties of Northeast Ohio.
Service work takes special training and equipment, Morgan adds. "
After performing TEGG Service on an electrical system, we can actually guarantee
its reliability even if we did not perform the original installation. This
association helps us meet new customers." Harrington earned the TEGG
Service Contractor of the Year Award in 2005, first place among 114 electrical
contractors.
Harrington also offers design/build services. Using the professional
acumen of two registered professional engineers, an RCDD, and its AutoCAD
capabilities, it's becoming ever more valuable to clients. Harrington's
design/build projects include retail malls, healthcare facilities, office
spaces, and manufacturing facilities.
Harrington also offers electric drive service and a "LightsOut"
program of lamp and ballast recycling, as well as 24/7/365 emergency response.
Morgan credits his staff for the fine reputation the company enjoys.
"We are truly fortunate to have such a committed group of experienced
professionals. Once the customers get a taste of how we handle things, they
want us back again on future projects".
But construction will always be vital to Harrington. Take the Cleveland
Institute of Music. This project (under construction) entails a state-of-the-art
recital hall and areas for distance learningcalling for the best in
electrical work. But even the rest of the construction, performed by Donley's,
amazes Morgan. "The electrical and communications systems have to be
meticulously coordinated and interwoven through the rebar, concrete forms
and other, dense mechanical systems," he says. That expertise and attention
to detail will keep Harrington on top for the next century. BXM
