Jefferson's
Interview with the Client:
BRANDON GRAHAM
President
What is your vision for Jefferson’s and what made you decide to bring it to Topeka?
We want Jefferson’s to be a family-friendly experience with a decidedly Midwest feel. We have found great success in Lawrence and wanted to bring our good food and family atmosphere to Topeka. We had been exploring the idea of expanding into Kansas City and Topeka, but nothing was solidly in the works in Topeka until this building came onto the market. It made us move a little quicker than we had planned, but we couldn’t pass up such a fantastic location. It has a high traffic flow, great visibility, and lots of fantastic surrounding businesses.
What was important to you in the design of Jefferson’s?
When you are renovating a bank, there are some good and bad things that go along with that. Obviously, we needed to take out the drive-up windows, but we wanted to keep the interesting outdoor feature on the south side of the building. People have driven past that building for years, and we wanted to keep a little of the nostalgia intact. Another interesting feature that we kept from the bank was the vault. In hindsight, that might not have been the best idea because of the cost it added to renovations, but it is a really cool feature that adds to the uniqueness of this Jefferson’s location.
It can be difficult to see the vision of space—what was that process like?
We already had some ideas for what we wanted in the space but working through the design process with the builder allowed us to make informed decisions. Of course, we had to deal with various supply chain issues along the way, but overall, this has been a great project from the start.
Interview with the Contractor:
PAT TOLIN
President & CEO
What is your process when working with a client through the construction of their building?
MCP believes the success of any project begins with forging a strong foundation between the builder and client well before breaking ground. Our preconstruction team reviews conceptual drawings and visits the site to prepare accurate cost estimates. We collaborate to help identify any possible challenges and create a solution before the work begins.
As the construction phase approaches, we meld our knowledge of the local contracting environment with our experience as builders to keep your project on track from the first day we break ground through handing over the keys. For example, we provide weekly progress reports and Owner/Architect/Contractor meetings, real-time automated schedule analytics, weekly jobsite subcontractor coordination meetings, and pre-installation meetings throughout the construction process. At the end, we will all be ready to celebrate the success of the project at the ribbon cutting and dedication of your project.
What impact does MCP make on our community when you build?
We take great pride when we build in our own community, as it allows us to utilize our talents locally by constructing an awesome project. More importantly to us, though, it allows us to provide work to local companies. Those companies are largely staffed with local talent, which means not only are we able contribute to the economic support and success of our local businesses but also to our fellow community members working for those companies.
What do businesses need to know when it comes to their next building project?
MCP exists to turn big ideas into completed projects. We want to be a trusted partner and see you succeed. We treat your project and business like it’s our own. Our solutions first mentality allows us to add value to your ideas and deliver your projects as you intended. Our transparent client service means no surprises. Our meticulous planning process allows us to deliver projects on time and on budget. When it is time to roll up our sleeves and get to work, our standards for quality and attention to detail shine.
We can give owners what they need to make informed decisions at the beginning of a project, whether that is on site selection, materials, constructibility, schedule, or plethora of other aspects involved in the project process. We strive to provide a level of service and involvement in the process that makes you feel like we’re your “in-house” contractor.
