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Andre Smith, President and Operations Manager of FIVE S Construction, says he likes going to work every day. In fact, he says it’s opportunities like the project his company is working on now that keeps his drive alive, and makes work interesting.

FIVE S Construction is currently working at the Center for Excellence in Automotive Technology at Baton Rouge Community College. Whew! That sounds like a mouthful, but this construction project is the culmination of years of planning, and it’s just one part of a modern, mixed-use development in East Baton Rouge Parish.

The BRCC Automotive Technology Center will be located on its new East Campus, which is part of what’s being called the Ardendale Development — a mixed use development that also will feature a residential neighborhood, retail establishments, and a charter school.

Funding for the project was provided by state capital outlay funding and local dollars. The $14 million dollar automotive center broke ground in February of this year, and should be complete in the latter part of 2015 or in the Spring of 2016.

The idea for the Automotive Technology Center came from a leadership trip to Richmond, VA that was organized by the Baton Rouge Area Chamber (BRAC). During that trip, Baton Rouge area leaders and business professionals learned how community colleges in other parts of the country were working in conjunction with industry professionals to build projects that address workforce needs.

The automotive training center will be one of the anchors of the Ardendale development, which is being built on a 200+ acre tract near Florida Blvd., Northeast of BRCC’s main campus. The center will train college and high school students to work as mechanics, and give them a chance to learn about the latest technology and techniques. Plans are to open the training center in the Fall of 2016.

Engineering on this project was provided by Watson Ricks Engineering, with Five S Construction performing all site prep and drainage work.

“We’re a civil contractor,” says Smith. “We like doing the dirt work. We like installing drainage. I tell everyone, we’re usually the first guys on the job site, and the last ones there before handing over the keys.”

For this project, FIVE S ordered A2000 PVC ranging in diameter from 6-inches to 24-inches, as well as more than 20 catch basins, manholes, and drain boxes.

Smith says 95% of the storm drainage work is done, and that he expects to install the roof drainage and down spouts as the project nears its completion date.

When asked why he likes calling on QSM for drainage materials, Smith said, “because they’re straight forward with you. They answer all our questions fast, and they’re great at helping us schedule things properly. They’re always there for us.”

FIVE S was founded in 1998 in Ville Platte, LA.

Today, they have offices in Ville Platte and Port Allen. FIVE S specializes in civil construction, focusing on site prep, drainage, concrete, concrete paving, asphalt, soil stabilization, and heavy equipment.

Call QSM for all your drainage and sitework solutions in Baton Rouge & throughout Louisiana.