Company Snapshot
| Legal name | Backwell, LLC |
| Headquarters | Constantia, NY |
| Service area | Upstate NY (Central NY, Mohawk Valley, Capital District, North Country) |
| Primary contact | Ron Backwell |
| Phone | (315) 400-2654 |
| Email | [email protected] |
| Bonding | Available, project-specific |
Self-Performed Data Center Scopes
Backwell self-performs the heavy civil work that hyperscale data center builds depend on. We own the fleet, run the crews, and bid the market. We do not subcontract our core scopes.
- Mass excavation and structural fill at hyperscale volumes
- Foundation pad preparation with documented compaction
- Concrete-encased ductbank for medium-voltage and fiber distribution
- Underground utility trenching (water, sewer, gas, storm)
- Fiber optic trenching (open-cut, HDD, microtrench)
- SWPPP and stormwater construction, NYSDEC GP-0-20-001 compliant
- Substation pad construction (transformer foundations, oil containment, grounding grid)
- Cooling water utility installation (chilled water, condenser water, cooling tower basins)
- Heavy haul access road construction and crane pad work
- Contractor laydown yard and trailer compound construction
Owned Fleet
Backwell owns and operates the fleet that data center pace requires. Selected major equipment:
- Cat 390 and Cat 350 excavators (large mass excavation class)
- Cat 740 articulated dump trucks
- Cat D6 and D8 dozers
- Cat 14 motor graders
- Roller compactors and trench rollers
- Off-road haul fleet and on-road dump fleet
- Excavator-mounted hydraulic hammers and rippers for rock work
Safety and Compliance Credentials
- ISNetworld member contractor, Company ID 400-973292
- OSHA 30-Hour Construction trained workforce
- NYSDEC SPDES GP-0-20-001 SWPPP qualified inspector certified
- Fully insured: General Liability, Auto, Workers Compensation, Umbrella
- New York State Department of Labor Contractor License
- Management System for Protecting Workers' Rights compliant
Representative Past Performance
Project history relevant to data center, commercial, and industrial site work:
J&S Marine Commercial Parking Lot Site Preparation
Location: Liverpool, NY · Value: approximately $325,000 · Role: Principal lead
Four-acre commercial site preparation: clearing, grubbing, grading, stormwater drainage, sub-base preparation. Lake plain soils typical of the Onondaga Lake corridor.
304 Court Street Full Building Renovation
Location: Syracuse, NY · Value: $1.34 million · Year: 2025 · Role: Prime contractor
Full building renovation including demolition, structural and interior renovation coordination, sitework, finishes, and turnover. Customer: North Shore REI.
516 E. Willow Street Development
Location: Syracuse, NY · Value: $750,000 · Year: 2025 · Role: Prime contractor
Sitework, renovation, vendor management, scheduling, and project administration. Customer: Universal Construction.
Geographic Footprint
Backwell covers the Upstate NY data center corridor end to end. Active service areas include:
- Central NY: Onondaga, Oneida, Madison, Cayuga, Oswego, Cortland counties
- Mohawk Valley: Herkimer, Schoharie counties
- Capital District: Saratoga, Albany, Schenectady, Rensselaer counties
- North Country: Jefferson, Lewis, St. Lawrence, Franklin counties
- Finger Lakes: Tompkins, Ontario, Seneca, Wayne counties
What We Need from You
For a fast turn on bid pricing or a prequalification packet, send:
- Civil drawings (earthwork, utility, SWPPP, ductbank)
- Geotechnical report or available soils data
- Schedule milestones (pad-ready, energization, building enclosure)
- Insurance and bonding requirements
- Any GC- or owner-specific safety qualification thresholds
Ron Backwell responds personally, usually within hours.