A Better Way to Build

"Charlie Pankow had an important impact on late-twentieth-century building development. His companies created a powerful niche market that kept his clients happy and the enterprise profitable. Pankow's clients weren't vainglorious developers seeking to create monuments for themselves. They wanted handsome, lasting buildings, delivered on time and at budget. And that Pankow accomplished time and again. Moreover, Pankow became as much an innovator in the systemic use of concrete as a building material as Gustave Eiffel had been in the late nineteenth century with cast iron." —Timothy Tosta, Partner, McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP

"Charles Pankow was an innovator who embraced the design-build concept, and he served as a champion of the approach while restoring the master builder to the commercial building site. He believed the contractor needed the ability to integrate cost- and time-saving construction methods. This book describes the 'Pankow Way,' a collaborative approach in which the contractor works effectively with the architects, engineers, and subcontractors to meet owners' expectations. It is an interesting history of a company and the man who created a unique business culture, and I recommend it as a great read for engineers, architects, contractors, and businesspeople." —Patrick J. Natale, Executive Director, American Society of Civil Engineers

"In the history of construction in the second half of the twentieth century, Charles Pankow stands out as the man who led the design-build revolution. Michael Adamson develops a fascinating portrait of a community leader, philanthropist, creative businessman, perceptive art collector, and major figure in the history of civil engineering. Read this book to learn about the visionary after whom the American Society of Civil Engineers recently named its prestigious competition in architectural engineering —and about the 'renaissance man' behind the vision." —Jeffrey S. Russell, Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Wisconsin

"A Better Way to Build: A History of the Pankow Companies is a story of one man's vision and the companies he created to carry out that vision. As a young architect I was taught that the general contractor was the opponent of good design. Author Michael Adamson shows how Charlie Pankow turned this idea on its head by reestablishing the historic partnership between design and construction. This is an excellent book for architects, engineers, and contractors. It shows how one visionary was able to turn an entire industry toward a better way of working together. I recommend it most highly." —Patrick MacLeamy, CEO, HOK Architects

"This is a great read —anyone and everyone in the architectural, engineering, construction, or development business should read this book. Design-bidbuild as a delivery method is broken! Charlie Pankow saw this many years ago with his colleagues at Kiewit. Over forty years ago he embarked on the formation of the design-build/design-assist delivery method for construction. He succeeded in a way that no one could have ever predicted. I am pleased to be able to have the opportunity to review this book and to advise everyone in the industry to read it." —Charles H. Thornton, Chairman, Charles H. Thornton & Company LLC

"Michael Adamson chronicles the erratic genius of Charlie Pankow and the construction empire he built in defiance of management conventions. As a 'Master Builder,' Charlie believed in people, not management doctrine. He attracted platoons of individualists, self-starters whom he motivated and inspired. He taught them to cut costs and schedules, to develop stunningly innovative construction techniques, and to enervate centuries-old designbuild methods, thrusting them onto the world of modern construction. If you want a gripping, bare-knuckled story about a man who successfully changed an industry, you've selected the right book." —Walker Lee Evey, Former President, Design-Build Institute of America