While winning awards in any field of work provides proof of exceptional talent and hard work, doing so among such a strong contingent of builders, architects and designers that exists in Hawaii is a monumental accomplishment.
With more than 50 years of combined experience to their credit, Don Holcomb and Dan Holt merged their talents by forming DH Squared Construction in 2007. With such an impressive resume between the pair, few were surprised when one of the industry’s most prestigious honors was bestowed upon the local company for one of its signature projects.
DH Squared Construction and Hawaii Architecture LLP were honored in May as the Overall Grand Award winner in the Residential Renovations category and Grand Award winner for projects of more than $500,000 as part of the Building Industry Association (BIA) of Hawaii’s Renaissance Awards for Building and Remodeling. Thirty eight entrants from Oahu, Maui and the Big Island showcased their work that was judged on creativity, principles of design, materials used, value, visual appeal, workmanship, functionality and overall quality.
The winning project, dubbed “La Pietra Circle,” a condominium unit at 3082 La Pietra Circle in Honolulu, was designed by architect Phillip Camp and features the development of integrated spaces that make it easier to entertain large groups as well as the addition of a loft area and a renovated structural glass staircase — the focal point of the project.
“With so many great contractors in Hawaii, it’s nice to win awards, but having it come from your peers validates the hard work,” Holcomb said. “The BIA also has several other categories and we also won a specialty award for an architectural detail, which was a stairway that we designed with glass rails.”
The awe-inspiring staircase links the natural stone on the condo’s ground level with the walnut wood flooring on the upper level. Cast-in-place concrete stair treads were painstakingly colored to match the brown walnut flooring, and the structural glass railings were used to allow an unobstructed view of the spacious home as well as the picturesque outdoor patio areas.
In addition to specializing in custom home building and remodeling, DH Squared also produces unique and exquisite custom, made-to-order cabinets.
“We started the cabinet business in 2008 to provide our clients with a custom quality cabinet made in Hawaii with a fast turnaround time. We wanted them to have the best product available with all the desired features,” Holcomb said. “We’re one of 200 manufacturers in the U.S. and Canada that uses this particular (cabinet design and fabrication) system called TenonCam.”
Holcomb explains that through the computer system, a client’s plans and design specifications are taken from the schematic stage and transferred to a CNC machine that cuts and drills each piece of cabinetry. The pieces are then transferred to another machine that “edge bands” the various parts before heading to the assembly stations.
“It’s part of a lean manufacturing process that allows us to work more efficiently,” Holcomb said. “It saves on time and material costs as well. In the old days, when we did all this by hand, what took us a week now takes us a day. We’re more efficient and produce more, so we are able to pass this cost savings on to our clients. One of the good things is that our cabinets are made in Hawaii, so if anything changes or any pieces need to be replicated, we’re able to react right then, quickly. That’s another advantage for our customers.”
For more information or to arrange an estimate, call DH Squared Construction at 383-2218 or visit the company’s website at www.DHSquaredConstruction.com.
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