Firm’s business engineered to last

WELL BUILT: Arden Engineering Constructors LLC has worked for a variety of clients, including businesses, hospitals and universities across Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts. Above, Jeff Potter, left, Arden vice president, with pipe welder Steve Daiute, welding a seam on a section of high-pressure steam pipe. / PBN FILE PHOTO/MICHAEL SALERNO
WELL BUILT: Arden Engineering Constructors LLC has worked for a variety of clients, including businesses, hospitals and universities across Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts. Above, Jeff Potter, left, Arden vice president, with pipe welder Steve Daiute, welding a seam on a section of high-pressure steam pipe. / PBN FILE PHOTO/MICHAEL SALERNO

Across Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts, Arden Engineering Constructors has worked on heating and air conditioning, fire-protection sprinkler systems and other mechanical engineering systems. Their clients include businesses big and small, hospitals and universities, said President and CEO Robert Bolton.
“We’ve recently finished installing 12 megawatts of cogeneration power at [Toray Plastics (America) Inc.],” said Bolton.
That cogeneration system at Toray Plastics in North Kingstown produces electricity and steam for two divisions of the company and allows it to continue uninterrupted manufacturing during power outages, according to Toray. The project was in the spotlight recently with state leaders applauding it as a cutting-edge example of how businesses are using new technology, particularly for energy efficiency.
Another of Arden’s high-profile projects is in the heart of Providence.
“We built the heating, plumbing and fire-protection systems for the entire Providence Place mall,” said Bolton.
Arden also does extensive work with Brown University, as well as all the other major public and private colleges in the state.
“We’re a commercial industrial contractor, but we’re not so big that we can’t handle our smaller projects and service business,” said Bolton, who practically grew up in the company, in the professional sense. A native of Cumberland, Bolton started working at Arden when he was 16.
A mechanical engineer with a degree from Roger Williams University, Bolton bought Arden Engineering in 2003.
The company was founded in 1954 by Irwin Arden and over the years the name has changed under different owners, said Bolton.
Arden Engineering Constructors does engineering design, construction and maintenance services. It is one of four Pawtucket-based companies owned by Bolton. He is the president and CEO of all four, which are part of Arden Building Companies.
“One reason we’ve been successful is diversification, not just in terms of what we offer to our clients, but our geographic reach,” said Bolton.
“If there are times when business in Rhode Island is slower and Massachusetts and Connecticut are doing better, that diversification in terms of geography is critical for keeping us afloat,” he said. “We [also] pride ourselves on using new technologies, like Building Information Modeling,” said Bolton. “It’s 3-D modeling and you can bring in all the different elements of the building.”
Long-term dedication to quality and service shows up in Arden Engineering being the go-to company for major hospitals, universities and businesses.
“The unions provide highly trained, highly skilled workers that are needed for the type or work that we do,” said Bolton. “We employ a lot of the union trades – plumbers, pipefitters, electricians. The skilled men and women from the union trades help us provide the services our clients depend on, and their skills give us the ability to deliver projects in a timely fashion and on budget.”
Like leaders of most successful companies, Bolton said it begins and ends with the people who work there.
“We pride ourselves on having excellent employees who are skilled and trained and can deliver through tough economic times,” said Bolton. “Great companies and great employees always have a job during the hard times.”
Reaching out to the community is also built into the structure of the company.
“We ask everyone to get involved with some sort of industry-related or civic organization,” said Bolton. “We do lot of work with the Ronald McDonald House. We’re very active with Hasbro Children’s Hospital, Toys for Tots and the Rhode Island Food Bank.”
Long-term dedication to quality and service shows up with Arden being the go-to company for many hospitals, universities and businesses.
“We are one of the major companies that people in our trade look to when they have difficult or emergency projects,” said Arden Vice President Jeff Potter. “When there’s an emergency with a critical mechanical system at 2 o’clock in the morning, more times than not, Arden gets the call.”
Keeping pace with innovation is critical for success, added Potter.
“One important reason for our success is our skilled people and their ability to adapt to the changing construction environment,” he said. •

COMPANY PROFILE
Arden Engineering Constructors LLC
OWNER: Robert M. Bolton
TYPE OF BUSINESS: Mechanical engineering, contracting and service
LOCATION: 505 Narragansett Park Drive, Pawtucket
EMPLOYEES: 140
YEAR ESTABLISHED: 1954
ANNUAL SALES: $50 million

No posts to display