Cippco Contracting Inc. – Excellence in Demolition

GMCS Editorial:  In this day and age, considering the events of the past year as it relates to demolition contractors in our region, it’s very easy to cast a cautious eye towards any demolition contractor.  However, all anybody needs to do is to look at one Cippco Contracting project and they know that this is an organization that resets the bar on excellence in the demolition industry.  From their equipment, their crew and their credentials, this organization simply stands head and shoulders above the rest.

On any given day throughout this region, you can walk upon a Cippco Contracting project and not even realize that it is a demolition project.  That is, until you see one of their pristine, bright red, work trucks parked on a corner.  Pristine and demolition are rarely used in the same context, but one look at their equipment and you know that you have hired an organization and workforce that takes prides in itself and its professionalism.

Cippco Contracting demolition crews further support this organization’s culture of pride and professionalism.  Every crew member wears a clearly visible Cippco uniform and most have completed a DOL certified (4) apprenticeship training programs which include basic trade instruction and necessary OSHA industry certifications.  

Cippco Contracting Inc. also recently received the Annual Skanska USA Building IFE Champion Award. Skanska promotes a safety culture not only within themselves but with anyone who works beside them. Skanska goes above and beyond to ensure the safety of their employees even stating “It is a way of life and culture, which values the worth and total well-being of all individuals on our jobsite and extends to their families.” Cippco shares the same values Skanska has instilled on their job sites. Cippco and crew look to continue their path towards an injury free environment.        

Despite all of the events of the past year, take this moment to recognize the standout in the crowd.  This organization defines professionalism and excellence and we are privileged to have them here in our community resetting the bar on demolition projects.

Cippco Contracting Inc. – Construction Today

 

The demolition process, by its nature, can get unkempt while work is underway. For Cippco Contracting Inc., however, removing a building’s interior doesn’t mean leaving behind debris.  “We are very meticulous,” says Paul DiDonato, vice president and co-owner of the Philadelphia-based selective interior demolition contractor. “We have a systematic process and routine to our work that our employees are trained in; we do not demolish, we dismantle.”

All materials and debris removed during Cippco’s dismantling process are sorted and then placed in carts. The company is self-sufficient by owning its own containers, container-hauling trucks and small hook lift trucks.

“All of our jobs are swept clean every day and we wet-mop loading docks, so it’s like we were never there,” he adds.

The company’s penchant for organization extends to its crew’s uniforms. Cippco provides pants, shirts, hard hats and other protective gear to its employees. “When you walk onto a Cippco project, everyone is wearing the same color outfit and is extremely identifiable,” DiDonato says. “We pride ourselves on being different from everyone else and taking things to the next level.”

A Preferred Contractor

Cippco’s focus on cleanliness and efficiency has made it a go-to contractor in Philadelphia and the surrounding region.  “We are the most preferred contractor in the Center City area and surrounding suburbs,” the company says. “We are highly respected working in areas of high-rises, pharmaceutical and hospital buildings, universities and shopping malls.” Regular clients include notable property management and real estate developers including Brandywine Realty Trust and Cushman Wakefield.

LEED projects are a specialty for the company. Cippco diverts approximately 90 percent of debris from sites on LEED projects, and roughly 80 percent for all other projects. All debris is taken to a waystation operated by recycling company Revolution Recovery. Cippco is the first demolition contractor in the Philadelphia area to be certified through the Green Advantage Environmental Program. “We try to recycle as much as possible on all of our demolition projects, so we’re not adding to the landfill,” DiDonato says.

The company’s current projects include a nine-floor interior demolition in an office building in Philadelphia on behalf of law firm Cozen O’Connor, which will relocate its office there. The project began in April and will conclude in October.

One of its other projects involves work on a $60 million redevelopment at 1128 Chestnut St. in Philadelphia. Cippco was selected by Clemens Construction Co. to perform demolition within a historic 1920s-era building which will eventually house retail space on its lower levels and apartments on its top five floors.

Proud Partnerships

Cippco was founded in 1992 as an excavating company by Joseph and Mercedes Cipolloni, who also served as the company’s only two employees at the time. Both original owners are still very much active in the company’s day to day operations. The company purchased its first backhoe in 1993, which enabled it to gain work as an independent contractor. The following year, the company expanded into concrete work, and in 1995 added interior demolition to its offerings. DiDonato joined the company in 1996, and became a co-owner in 2001.

The company maintains relationships with local laborers, cement masons, operating engineers and carpenters’ unions. DiDonato credits the company’s union relationships and focus on quality management with its continued success. “We are a complete team effort from top to bottom and inside and out,” he says. “We treat everyone – employees and clients – with respect and as an equal.”

Cippco considers its ability to be proactive to be its core competency. “We are always looking for ways to stay ahead. Any challenge that we are confronted with is embraced as a learning experience, and we see it as a way to grow our company,” the company says.

The company based its culture around investing in its employees’ character and work ethic. “We hold our employees and the quality work they provide to the highest standard which is a direct reflection of our company,” the company adds. “In addition to our quality of work, we are known by our clients and competitors for our immaculate appearance on our job sites, with our trucks, tools, and equipment. We take pride in everything we do as a company.”

Relationships with clients and building managers are also major contributors to Cippco’s success. “We build relationships with our clients by providing a unique and exceptional service,” the company says. “We pride ourselves by going above and expectations, giving our clients a sense of security and peace of mind.”

Source: Construction Today