Best Buy is the largest volume specialty retailer of consumer electronics, personal computers, entertainment software and appliances. They currently operate retail stores in 41 states and are on track to have more than 550 stores nationwide by 2004. DonahueFavret Contractors was called on for three separate construction projects, located in Slidell, Metairie and Lafayette, Louisiana. Challenging obstacles were presented at each location. In Slidell, the store had to be completed in time for holiday shopping and ready to be stocked in only 90 days. Part of the requirements for the Metairie Store was to demolish an existing church and school which occupied approximately 60,000 square feet of the site, plus the existing asphalt paving. All demolition had to be complete prior to the installation of one thousand - 72 foot composite pilings which would support the building and the installation of the 90,000 square foot concrete parking area. DFC faced difficult site conditions, a challenging schedule, poor soil conditions and excessive rainfall during the course of the project. Finally, the Lafayette location was originally an abandoned shopping center. All of the buildings had been demolished, but the slabs, foundation and parking paving were still in place. Included in the negotiations of this $2,900,000 project was the demolition of all vestigial elements. Many underground obstructions were encountered when drilling the piers for the foundations and installing storm drainage in the 90,000 square foot concrete parking lot. DonahueFavret Contractors, Inc. was highly commended on all three projects for excellent performance, successfully completing each of them on schedule, and thereby maximizing corporate profitability.