Moving on up

It’s been awhile since I posted here. But the memories are still valid.

This job (Harrah’s South Tower) had more than its share of problems. For one, Bill Harrah had recently died and the construction was being overseen by the new owner, the Holiday Corporation, owners of the Holiday Inn name. Harrah’s and Holiday Inn were never synonymous and it really showed on this project. The original budget per room for decorating was around $300 when Bill Harrah was alive; with Holiday, it was $78.

Plus, the Holiday people had used a construction management firm and not a ‘real’ contractor. That left the subcontractors on their own to manage scheduling. It was soon a disaster in the making as every contractor did exactly as they pleased. Finally, after many weeks of frustration and angry meetings, we all agreed on one guy to handle the scheduling for us and agreed to follow his lead.

It didn’t take long for us to catch up and start exceeding the schedule and we were soon finishing a floor every week. But we did have one slight handicap to overcome. Our ‘Boss’, the owner of Solari and Sons was also the chairman of the board at First Interstate bank; the tall black building about a block away from our site. And from his boardroom, he could look at those who were working…or not working. And I would get phone calls from him; “There’s a taper on the 3^rd floor and he’s smoking and looking out the window! Go down there and fire him!” And off I would go…to find a plumber or an electrician smoking near the window. Not my problem. Then I would have to call him back and let him know that it wasn’t one of his employees. And he always doubted me. I finally passed the word to all of our employees that they should expect to be seen by Al Solari while working on the south side of the project and if they needed a break, go over to the north side. Duh!

At the same time we were building the hotel tower, we were also remodeling the casino on the ground level and the seafood restaurant at the second floor. Plus a few other odd jobs at various spots around the offices in the basement.

A note about casino remodeling. Nothing is more important than getting the customers back in and gambling. Cost doesn’t matter; time does. I would often meet with a Harrah’s rep at 8 in the morning and he would explain what work he wanted done and where. There was no time for cost estimates or contracts. We would work as many hours as needed and at 8 the next morning, the work would be complete. Fresh paint and new carpet. I would then submit a bill and they would pay it.

Example: I met the Harrah’s rep one day behind the barricades that had just been erected around a 20’x30’ space. The slot machines had been removed and were now lined up against the barricade wall. Besides me, every trade was represented at his meeting. Ironworkers to painters. The ironworkers would go first, putting in a few beams as the laborers removed the old construction. My crew would fireproof the beams as soon as they were in place. My framing crew would follow and the electrician was right behind. Plumbing, plastering, HVAC and drywall. No one left till they were complete. There were probably close to 30 people behind the barricade, all working shoulder to shoulder or waiting for their turn. And 24 hours later, the barricades came down and the slot machines put back in place.