Irmscher Construction completed design/build work for Central Indiana Orthopedics.

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A small, private contractor such as Irmscher Construction has big advantages over big-name contractors, the company says. For one, Irmscher Construction is able to stay flexible with the changing market and is able to provide personal attention at all levels. “We are a closely held company and [we] can make decisions quickly and be able to respond quickly when it is required,” owner Tom Irmscher says.    

Founded in 1892 by Irmscher’s great-grandfather, Max Irmscher Sr., Irmshcer Construction primarily works in the healthcare industry, building ambulatory surgery centers, medical office buildings and other healthcare facilities. In addition, the company also works in the retail and commercial market. 

Serving the Great Lakes region, Irmscher says the economy has affected its clients. “The market in Indiana is far from robust,” he says. “We have to move out geographically. [For example], Texas is a market where there is still a lot of activity, and we’re looking for a number of different projects there.”   

But while the amount of potential work dwindles, competition continues to increase, Irmscher notes.    

“The industry is contracting, while the number of contractors is expanding,” he states. “We compete by focusing on specific areas where we have skills and stay away from the commodity end of the business such as public-bid.    

“It is difficult to differentiate yourself in the public-bid arena since there is no value-added [advantage] that is evaluated.”   

To deal with the market slowdown, Irmscher Construction is expanding into different markets such as higher education. Irmscher remains optimistic, however. “My vision is to increase our presence in the medical segment of the market and develop new market segments where our value-added will be recognized,” he says.

Serving the Healthcare Market
Ranked by Modern Healthcare magazine in the top-10 healthcare design/builders in the nation in recent years, Irmscher Con­struction offers construction, planning, design and delivery services for regional healthcare providers.    

“Through predictable design and construction, healthcare providers cannot only participate, but thrive in today’s competitive environment,” the company says.  

Irmscher Construction says its services include obtaining feasibility studies and pro forma analysis, as well as providing site search assistance, design, cost control, master scheduling and construction services with a specialty in ambulatory surgery centers.

Successful Projects
Some of the company’s successful projects in Indiana, Michigan and Ohio include:

• Fort Wayne Orthopedics – A 60,000-square-foot ambulatory surgery center;
• Kosciusko Community Hospital – A 32,000-square-foot wellness center;
• Orthopedic Associates of Port Huron – A 29,000-square-foot medical office building;
• Internal Medicine Associates – A 67,000-square-foot multi-specialty medical office building and catheterization lab;
• Orthopedic Institute of Lafayette and Innervision Imaging – A 48,000-square-foot ambulatory surgery center and imaging center;
• Unity Healthcare – A 75,000-square-foot multi-specialty medical office building;
• Faith, Hope and Love Cancer Center – A 8,960-square-foot radiation therapy center;
• Beacon Orthopedics and Sports Medicine – A 66,000-square-foot ambulatory surgery center and baseball training facility.
  

Experienced Contractors
“I believe what sets us apart is the experience we have in designing and building medical facilities with our in-house personnel,” Irmscher says. “We have been working for the healthcare industry since the 1920s.”   

Irmscher Construction uses its experience to persuade prospective clients. “The challenge is getting in front of the owners early enough to present to them who we are and what we do, and giving them an option to determine if we have value for them,” Irmscher says.  

“Because once they get too far down the road, they would have lost that opportunity to make the decision that we are value-added to them and their specific project.   

“Normally, [clients] see the advantage,” he continues. “We are an open book firm, so clients are involved with all the decision from design to procurement.”

A Big Advantage
Many factors influence the healthcare market, according to Irmscher. “The medical field is substantially affected by the current legislation, as well as reimbursement codes, which change periodically,” he says.            

These impact decisions in ambulatory and outpatient facilities by allowing or disallowing certain physician activities and setting the amounts that they will be paid for procedures. In addition, there are more joint-venture partnerships between hospitals and physicians, Irmscher says. “It makes it more difficult for us to work outside of our local area because hospitals have relationships they have formed with local and regional contractors, while private practice groups normally don’t,” he says.

“The big advantage for the private physician groups is that they find Irmscher with a long history of predictable medical experience.”