Subcontractor Spotlight: Setting an Exceptional Pace at New Morgan

On a large-scale, active construction site, completing one scope of work often clears the way for several others. At our ongoing New Morgan Gateway Commerce Center project in Berks County, Ruhlman Concrete Products and Services has helped the Brubacher team maintain that forward momentum by installing thousands of feet of curb at an exceptional pace, showing what an experienced subcontractor and a well-established working relationship can do for a demanding schedule.

As the project’s concrete subcontractor, Ruhlman Concrete was responsible for installing all curbing, along with 1,244 square feet of concrete infill for the Highway Occupancy Permit (HOP) island. Altogether, this scope has encompassed approximately 24,543 linear feet of curb.

During their first mobilization, the Ruhlman Concrete team installed 16,000 linear feet in only three days. Working concurrently with two curb machines, crews completed an impressive 9,750 linear feet on the first day and finished the remaining installation over the following two days, which may be an effort for the record books!

Prepared to Perform

The installation figures tell only part of the story. New Morgan has included extensive documentation requirements that subcontractors must satisfy before beginning work. Brubacher Project Engineer Logan M. noted that Ruhlman Concrete handled that process thoroughly and efficiently, allowing their crews to mobilize without unnecessary delays.

 “What sets Ruhlman’s Concrete apart is their utilization of a curb machine,” Logan explained. “This prevents them from having to place forms, reduces the number of joints, and allows them to complete work in a quicker timeframe.”

At the same time, the Ruhlman team credited excellent collaboration with Brubacher for the efficient pace, highlighting how the two teams worked together to complete the full three-day installation. Their leaders shared, “Ruhlman Concrete Products and Services worked great with Brubacher as we poured 16,000 linear feet of concrete curb in 3 days.”

The work process was not without challenges, as space and coordination have proved complex at New Morgan. Sitework, electrical, plumbing, steel, and other construction activities were taking place concurrently with curbing, leaving little room for one team’s work to disrupt another’s. Ruhlman Concrete continually communicated with Brubacher, the general contractor, and other subcontractors to determine when and where curb installation could proceed safely and efficiently.

That preparation paid dividends beyond the concrete scope. By completing the curb installation faster than would typically be possible, the Ruhlman team enabled Brubacher to move into base paving and remain ahead of schedule for this portion of the project.

“Ruhlman’s performance is excellent, which is why they continue to be a trusted and relied-upon subcontractor,” Logan said.

Director of Field Operations Brad C. agreed, emphasizing that productivity alone would not provide the same value if it came at the expense of work quality. “Based on Brubacher’s experience across numerous projects, Ruhlman Concrete consistently meets safety expectations, delivers a high-quality finished product, and has required very little rework,” he noted.

Solid Working Relationships Keep Work Moving

From the project engineer side, Logan specifically recognized Brubacher Site Superintendent Matt S. and Ruhlman Concrete leadership team member Bryce Ruhlman for maintaining consistent communication throughout the work. Having worked together previously, the two understood what each team needed to accomplish before installation began.

Ruhlman Concrete willingly reorganized their schedule to accommodate the work at New Morgan, while Matt and the Brubacher team coordinated grading, site readiness, communication with the general contractor, and the activities of other subcontractors. Their shared familiarity and strong communication helped both teams anticipate expectations and complete the work as planned.

“We view our subcontractors as part of the Brubacher team,” Brad C. shared. “We can’t do our work without them, so we try to build that partnership and treat everyone like a coworker—not simply say, ‘You’re the subcontractor; you handle this.’ That’s key to our mission of Shaping the World We Live In.”

At New Morgan, that philosophy has translated directly into meaningful project progress. Ruhlman Concrete’s combination of specialized equipment, responsive scheduling, and a trusted working relationship with Brubacher helped the teams complete an exceptional amount of curb installation while keeping subsequent work moving forward.