TIFTON -- Using a type of construction invented nearly 2,000 years ago, S.C. Barker Construction Company of Valdosta recently completed Turner Furniture's new 65,000-square-foot distribution center and corporate headquarters in Tifton's Industrial Park.

The technique, "tilt-up" construction, has recently received renewed interest in the building industry as a time saving, cost-effective method. The technique involves casting the concrete exterior walls and then tilting them up, using cranes, and setting them on a prepared foundation.

"The biggest advantages are the durability of the concrete versus metal buildings and the speed of construction," said Kevin Barker, who works with his father, S.C. in the company. "Wright Turner and my father looked at several buildings in Florida before deciding on the tilt-up method."

Barker said this was his company's first time using the technique, although there are several industrial buildings in Valdosta built using tilt up construction, including Letica and Dillards. He said the construction method is regaining in popularity as costs of building rise.

Wright Turner, patriarch of the Turner Furniture family of stores, said he selected the Barker company to build the distribution center as they had worked on several projects together previously. "They projected a time schedule of five months and maintained it, even with the rain and weather problems."

Turner said the company selected Tifton as the site for their distribution center due to its central location and convenience to their stores in Valdosta, Tifton, Albany and Moultrie.

"We used to maintain two distribution centers, one in Valdosta and one in Albany. One stocked regular merchandise and the other stocked for the budget stores," he said, adding that a consolidated warehouse simply makes more sense for the company.

Now, a customer who buys a piece of furniture from Turners will receive the product directly from the warehouse. Turner said that means quicker delivery, less handling of the product, and more customer satisfaction.

Turner said he and his three sons, Fortson, Scott and Austin, run the family stores as a team from the new corporate headquarters in Tifton. He added that one of the biggest advantages of the new building is, "It's cooler. The concrete reflects the heat. It's also very sturdy and should be there forever."

Barker said a team of professionals worked together in completing the building, including Richard Hill and Associates, Beta Designs and Southern Engineers. He said his company is already looking at other projects using the tilt-up technique.

To contact Business Editor Kay Harris, call 244-3400, ext. 280.