Summit Design + Build expands, celebrates two years in Tampa

Florida Construction News special feature

Just over two years ago, general contractor Summit Design + Build opened a regional office in Tampa, expanding for the first time outside of their Chicago headquarters.

“Opening the Tampa office was something I wanted to do for some time,” said Adam Miller, president of Summit Design + Build. “I have strong ties to the area and it felt like the natural next step to expand our operations.”

The firm’s decision to make Tampa their second home was very intentional, and not just because of Miller’s existing connections to the area. Summit had been at the forefront of changing neighborhoods and landscapes before, and Tampa’s potential mirrored what they had experienced in Chicago’s Fulton Market. And despite being the new builder in town, their reputation as complex construction experts and their depth of experience means they offer their clients a fresh approach and out-of-the-box solutions.

Clients quickly recognized Summit’s ability to take on challenging projects, evidenced by their first job in Key Largo. When Hurricane Irma hit Ocean Pointe Suites, Scott Hutchison, Director of Southeast Construction, was brought on to manage the process of rebuilding.

Nearly 95 percent of the units at Ocean Pointe suffered major water damage during the storm and the task of rebuilding proved to be more difficult than expected.

“The damage was devastating,” recalled Hutchison. “A major problem was not having power restored for weeks. Smart, immediate solutions were vital.”

Over the course of the year-long reconstruction, Summit managed the remediation of 248 condo units and suites in five separate buildings, the construction of an all new marina, clubhouse and guard shack, and new landscaping.

Since the inaugural project, Summit has completed the reconstruction of an industrial warehouse in Tampa, the build-out of a 16,000 sq. ft. store for retailer H&M, the build-out of new office suites for Office Evolution, the renovation of the Palms Plaza retail center in South Tampa, and the new construction of Florida’s first Walk On’s Bistreaux and Bar.

Beyond their unique offering, Summit recognizes the value of relationships in the construction industry.

“It’s an exciting time for us,” expressed Miller. “By having an office in Tampa, we’ve been able to help our clients enter the market as well. They see the promise of this area as much as we do.”

Walk On’s has enlisted Summit to build another stand-alone restaurant in Midland, Texas following the success of the project in Lutz, Florida and longtime client WeWork is again employing Summit to complete the build-out of their first Tampa location at 501 East Kennedy. Summit also landed a contract to complete the build-out of a new office for Frank Recruitment Group at 501 East Kennedy and will soon kick-off the adaptive reuse of an existing commercial building in St. Petersburg.

Summit shows no signs of slowing down as they plan to evolve and grow alongside the area and their clients. The firm has welcomed six new team members, will soon be moving to a larger office to accommodate their rapid growth and has big plans and projects in the pipeline.“We have the experience and the tools to give our clients what they need: a space where their people and business thrive,” promised Miller. “This is just the beginning.”