Marnell Corrao

Top Nevada-Based GC Turns in Profitable Year

by Tony Illia

The top Nevada-based firm in this year's ranking is Marnell Corrao Associates, propelled by such projects as the Molasky Corporate Center and Town Square.

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Marnell Corrao Associates is Nevada's highest revenue contractor with $569.1-million in statewide billings last year, an 18.7% increase over 2005.

The 37-year-old, Las Vegas-based firm saw an added $83.19-million in general building work in 2006 with such high-rise projects as the $1.2 billion, 1,727-unit "Residences at MGM Grand."

Marnell broke ground on the first of three, 40-story concrete-and-glass condo-hotel towers behind the MGM Grand in October 2004. The initial tower opened last summer at Harmon Avenue and Koval Lane. It was followed by tower two in November. The third and final building will finish later this year.

Marnell is also building the $107-million, 17-story Molasky Corporate Center in downtown Las Vegas. The 852,000-sq-ft Class A office tower will be one of the city's first LEED-silver certified projects. The 243-ft-tall steel, glass and concrete structure is scheduled to finish in September.

"Marnell is a very good, experienced contractor," says Rich Worthington, president of the Molasky Group of Companies, the Las Vegas-based developer. "They have a very progressive management style as a result of handling complex multi-million dollar projects."

Marnell is currently handling the $750 million, 1.7 million-sq-ft Town Square at the northwest corner of Las Vegas Boulevard South and the Interstate-15/215 interchange. Centra Properties and Turnberry Associates are joint developers of the 117-acre property. The retail-office-entertainment complex is scheduled to finish in October.

"All of our jobs in 2006-07 have been profitable," says Mike Spainhour, Marnell's vice president of construction. "We've been well staffed with employees that have been with us 15 to 30 years. Marnell is a family-owned operation that promotes from within, and continues to do so."

Marnell additionally self-performs its carpentry work, which gives it greater control over job quality, scheduling and safety, the company claims, and it sets the standard for subcontractors and suppliers to follow.

The firm expects a strong 2007-08 with work expected to start soon at the $850 million, dual-tower Pinnacle Las Vegas. Construction at the 36-story, 1,100-unit condo-hotel at Tropicana and Cameron avenues will last until late 2009. Marnell is also performing preconstruction services for Harrah's Entertainment Inc.

"We've been fortunate to work with several repeat owners with whom we have familiar working relationships," says Spainhour. "As a result, we know their expectations upfront."

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