After building hundreds of buildings for customers, MAR Building Solutions’ newest project was one of its own. The company recently opened a new 8,650 square-foot building near SE Hamblen & SE Bailey Road.

For owner Chad Anderson, MAR Building Solutions is the result of hard work and a close friendship.  After graduating from Lee’s Summit North in 2003, Chad went through a sheet metal union apprenticeship and began work for the architectural sheet metal company, A. Zahner. His work at the company included roof work for the Kauffman Performing Arts Center and Kauffman Stadium’s Crown Vision.

“It’s just the most abstract stuff you can make, with nothing square or straight” said Chad.

New opportunity

Then opportunity came knocking with an old family friend whom Chad had known since he was a child, named Addy Martin.

Chad said he first met Addy when he was around 8-years-old. Addy, the owner of MAR Enterprises, had put up buildings for Chad’s father, as well as many other buildings throughout the community.

“He was out on the bobcat and I was just a little kid out running around the job site,” Chad said.

In 2014 Chad, who was already installing overhead doors for Martin, approached him about the possibility of taking on more responsibility in the business. Addy signed over part of his Butler Building dealership to Chad and that is when MAR Building Solutions was created. That allowed the continuation for the MAR name in the construction industry. Upon Addy’s death in 2016, work and contracts were moved from MAR Enterprises to MAR Building Solutions.

“There’s no money that changed hands. He’s just a good family friend that helped me start a business and that’s all it was. I kept his name and his legacy to keep going,” said Chad.

Growing Business

MAR Building Solutions now employs 12 full-time employees who build commercial industrial, manufacturing and office/warehouse buildings all over the region. Projects span from Manhattan, KS to Odessa, MO. The team also recently completed a 25,000 square-foot building in St. Joe for Yellow Frog Graphics, a 20,000 square-foot building in Grandview, MO for PM Contracting, and an 8,000 square-foot building for Higdon Construction in Lee’s Summit. Chad says he prefers to keep most of his work close to home.

“I like to sleep in my own bed, and I think the guys do too,” Chad said.

In addition to the lower price point of pre-engineered buildings and the speed of production, Chad said his buildings provide higher R-values, which can greatly reduce the total cost of ownership.

While metal buildings are the bread and butter of MAR Building Solutions, the company also specializes in commercial finish. Their portfolio includes roof and interior remodel work for Mid-States Distributing.

In 2017, imminent domain sent Chad searching for a new location for his business. He ended up securing the land near SE Hamblen & SE Bailey, along with 100 percent tax abatement for five years through LCRA.

“I wanted to stay in Lee’s Summit because that’s home.”

Chad moved into the new building in November 2019. The metal building features insulated metal panels, concrete mezzanine, polished concrete floors, wood paneled walls and a stone façade– features that may be surprising to some.

“You can go put up a metal building and have it be fancy too,” said Chad.

In February of 2018, Chad brought on Kurt Krasick as a partner.  He is a licensed Engineer who previously worked at Burger and Brown Engineering and Olsson and Associates.  MAR Building Solutions plans to build at least two more buildings on the land adjacent to its new building.