Wednesday, February 19, 2003
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Roel acquires Nielsen Dillingham assets

Roel Construction Co., a fourth-generation, family-owned business with a large presence in Las Vegas, has acquired the bulk of the assets of Nielsen Dillingham Builders Inc., the company announced Tuesday.

Steve Roel, owner of the San Diego-based construction company, said he could not disclose terms of the acquisition because of Nielsen Dillingham's financial situation.

Nielsen Dillingham Builders recently followed its parent company, San Diego-based Dillingham Construction Co., into Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

Nielsen Dillingham built the Star Trek Experience at the Las Vegas Hilton. The company had an office at 4310 S. Cameron St. in Las Vegas with Casey Jones as general manager, but closed it about two years ago.

Roel will take over nine construction or consulting contracts in Southern California as part of the acquisition. About 160 Nielsen employees joined Roel on Jan. 27.

The agreement also calls for Roel to help Nielsen Dillingham finish 13 other projects well under way in San Diego County and to acquire some equipment and all intellectual property, including rights to the Nielsen name.

"I think they basically did it for the San Diego market," a source in the local construction industry said. "That's mainly to give them the strength there, not for this market. But it brings in some good workers for them."

Roel said that's true. His company is taking on contract volume in the $100 million range, including Petco Field, the new baseball stadium for the San Diego Padres.

Roel's Southern Nevada construction projects include the Whiskey Bar at Green Valley Ranch, clubhouses at Red Rock Country Club and Anthem Country Club and the Siena Fitness Center in Summerlin.

The company recently renovated the Boulder City Theater lobby and is now building the Siena Community Center, a Volvo dealership and is active in the development of Lake Las Vegas Resort.

"We're spending a great deal of effort in the Las Vegas Valley," said Roel, who purchased a second home in Las Vegas at Turnberry Place.

"I spend four days a week in Las Vegas because in order to push our business forward and respond to clients, you really need to live in the community and understand what the marketplace is all about.

"A lot of companies come in and blow out. They're just carpetbaggers. We've been in Las Vegas for 10 years."

Roel has become one of the largest independent general building companies in the West with overall volume in the mid-$300 million range. The company also has offices in Irvine, Calif., and Phoenix.