As seen on many news outlets, there is an abnormal excess of container ships waiting to unload at various ports around the country. As a result, material is delayed from and takes longer to get to the consumer. As you can imagine, this is taking quite a toll on the construction industry. As mentioned in the article: “Construction materials such as steel and lumber have been in short supply, with demand increasing steadily over the past year.”

“Currently, according to CBRE, there is 410 million square feet of new product under construction in the U.S., a record high. However, a disturbing trend has emerged as completions have declined two quarters in a row – 54.66 million square feet in Q1 and 51.67 MSF in Q2. This is considerably below the five-year average of quarterly completions of 64.3 MSF. Projects are breaking ground and stalling out due to lack of materials at a time when more product than ever is needed. With vacancy at record lows and rental rates at record highs, a dearth of new product will continue to put pressure on costs.”

So what does this mean for Albion and other construction companies in the industry?

This information reiterates the importance of identifying long lead time items even earlier than ever before. Staying proactive is key in this environment of high demand and little supply. We’ve enacted on identifying the materials needed for a project prior to receiving the NTP. This has also affected our projects in progress and their schedules. We are committed to doing all we can to ensure our projects stay on time and the budget is not greatly affected by the rise in prices.

We will continue to stay ahead of the curve and monitor all impending shortages in order to keep our projects on time and on budget!

The post Material Shortages Continuing With No End in Sight appeared first on Albion.

You may remember this quote from our blog post: “The Untold Story of Albion.” In light of Brian’s ability to find and retain the industry’s top talent, I wanted to spotlight our incredible team here at Albion. Each month, we will virtually introduce you to a member of our team. I look forward to chatting with my teammates about their interest in the construction industry, hobbies outside of work, and more. In this month’s ‘New Employee Spotlight’, we are introducing you to one of our Preconstruction Managers, Diane Maddox.

Get to know a little bit more about Diane, an experienced estimator with an impressive background. We definitely enjoy having Diane here at the office and she makes a great addition to the Albion team! I asked Diane a few questions about her life in and outside of Albion:

What made you interested in working for a general contractor?

I studied Building Construction from day 1 of college and had no other industry interest.

What attracted you to Albion?

Smaller company in a growth mode is so rewarding to see how your contribution impacted the future company.  

What is your professional background (colleges, degrees, past job experience, etc.)?

Graduated from Texas A & M University with a BS in Building Construction, just like my brother-in-law and his sister.

What’s your proudest career moment?

Assisted in buying out on a $45,000,000 job and a $26,000,000 job and knowing your pet estimate you worked on for a year or more had enough money to build each project plus good profit.

If you could meet anyone, dead or alive, who would it be and why?

A pilot that went down in the Bermuda Triangle. Tell me what happened?

What is your favorite food?

Pappasito’s Cantina – enchiladas

What is your favorite TV show?

Comedies

What are your hobbies outside of work?

Swimming, playing pool, traveling and yardwork.

Where is the best place you’ve traveled to and why?

California, I was born there and then returned to live there when I was in middle school. It is beautiful scenery – mountains, sea, sunsets, dessert.

What is your favorite sports team?

Texas A & M University

Thank you, Diane! We absolutely love having you on board!

The post Albion Employee Spotlight: Diane Maddox appeared first on Albion.

Albion is expanding our office into the space next door.

2021 has been an exciting year for Albion. In January we became 100% Employee Owned and In May, Albion was awarded a spot on the ACG 40 Fastest Growing Companies in Georgia List! We were fortunate to keep everyone on board during the onset of Covid and we even hired new employees during that time!

With all of this exciting progress we have outgrown the current office space we are in. As a result we acquired the space next door to our current office in our current complex and have been building it out to resemble our current office. This new space next door will provide us with 6 offices, a designated Assistant Project Manager work area, a separate intern area, a community break room and conference room space, more restrooms, and a special area for employee safety training. We will be bridging the two spaces through one of the existing rooms in our current office. The new office space is set to be complete at the end of September and we are so excited to be able to add even more great talent to our ever growing team!

We’re excited to share pictures when it officially opens. Here’s to even more growth as Albion moves swiftly into 2021!

The post Here We Grow! appeared first on Albion.

KSU Sports Track Phase 1

Description: Drainage Repairs to an existing trench drain, repairs to existing concrete retaining wall, regrading, and installation of additional storm sewer infrastructure to control offsite runoff at the existing Sports Park Track at KSU.

Where are we? Started site demolition. Removed existing fence and, trees.

Estimated Completion Date: 09.06.2021

KSU University Rooms

Description: Upgrade existing aesthetics of KSU CSC University Rooms: installation of new ceiling design upgrade and installation of new lighting design, installation of new theatrical lighting, re-furnishing existing operable partitions, provide sound partitions above operable walls to extend to deck, installation of sound damper in existing mechanical and, coordination of recent AV upgrade.

Where are we? Architectural Punch Walk scheduled for tomorrow 08.06.2021. Outstanding work: Installation of Theatrical Lights and Light Controls.

Estimated Completion Date: 08.06.2021

KSU Waterproofing

Description: Install new expansion joints and, apply new sealant and traffic coating on bridge by KSU Carmichael Student Center.Clean, patch and repair existing CMU and Concrete Surfaces to apply new sealant and high performance water repellent coating. Repair EIFS and reseal building to bridge joints. Extend downspouts to holes core in precast deck to drain on grade below.

Where are we? Applying new liquid membrane on Expansion Joints, applying final coat of traffic coating on bridge over the weekend.

Estimated Completion Date: 08.26.2021

KSU Stillwell

Description: Interior Renovation of the existing Wilson Bldg. Stillwell Theater that consisted of covering existing CMU walls with gypsum board with a textured finish, painting, new rolled carpet, installing new handrails, 3-Form Panels Privacy Screens, built-in new sound booth.  

Where are we? Project completed.

Completion Date: 01.14.2021

KSU Bursar

Description: Project encompassed three areas within Kennesaw Hall. Area 1  – Reconfiguration of existing office suite to meet the needs of the new Bursar Teller Office. Area 2 – Addition of a Double service desk and lighting above in the main Rotunda. Area 3 – Subdivision of an existing office suite to provide additional office space for the Bursar.

Where are we? Project completed.

Completion Date: 01.11.2021

KSU Compactor Enclosure

Description: Construction of a new dumpster and compactor enclosure for KSU University Village, provide new reinforced concrete retaining walls, heavy-duty concrete pad for dumpster and trash compactor, extruded aluminum metal canopy, water connection for hose bib and site walkways.  

Where are we? Project completed.

Completion Date: 04.20.2021

Albion values our relationship with Kennesaw State University and we are excited to see what the future holds on their campuses. Go Owls!

The post Albion is Staying Busy on the Kennesaw State University Campus! appeared first on Albion.

You may remember this quote from our blog post: “The Untold Story of Albion.” In light of Brian’s ability to find and retain the industry’s top talent, I wanted to spotlight our incredible team here at Albion. Each month, we will virtually introduce you to a member of our team. I look forward to chatting with my teammates about their interest in the construction industry, hobbies outside of work, and more. In this month’s ‘New Employee Spotlight’, we are introducing you to one of our new Preconstruction Managers, Brian Cunningham.

Get to know a little bit more about Brian Cunningham, an outstanding estimator with an impressive background. Brian is also an exceptional leader – having just been named Young Leadership Program’s 2021 Member of the Year for his remarkable contributions to the program. We have definitely enjoyed having Brian’s quick wit, dedication and hard work here at the office! I asked Brian a few questions about his life in and outside of Albion:

What made you interested in working for a general contractor?

Mainly the long days and the stress. My life prior to working at a GC was too easy. Just full of free time for hobbies and vacations, so I knew something had to change.

What is your professional background (colleges, degrees, past job experience, etc.)?

I joined the US Coast Guard out of high school and completed basic training in New Jersey in February doing push-ups in snowdrifts. I spent probably the best 3+ years of my life stationed aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Willow – a football-shaped ship homeported in Newport, RI – where we patrolled the coast of New England six months out of the year. When I got out of the Coast Guard, I worked at a truck dealership repairing diesel engines and service writing for several years before joining Dennis Taylor & Company as an equipment dispatcher in 2011. While working there I took online/night classes and got a degree in Journalism/Professional Writing from Georgia Perimeter College, which I never have and likely never will use. I transitioned to preconstruction in the GC realm in 2014 and haven’t looked back since.

What’s your proudest career moment?

Serving as chair of the AGC’s Young Leadership Program was the most challenging and rewarding experience I’ve ever had and being selected as 2020-2021 Member of the Year was a huge honor for me.

If you could meet anyone, dead or alive, who would it be and why?

I’d like to spend a day with Anthony Bourdain. Eat at his favorite places, drink, and talk about everything from food and travel to philosophy and combat sports. The man was just a legend.

What is your favorite food?

Any meal I cook and enjoy with my family, but also burritos.

What is your favorite TV show?

This is too much like choosing which of your children you love the most but forced to answer at gunpoint I’d say Deadwood.

What are your hobbies outside of work?

I enjoy backpacking, camping, and fly fishing, and I’ve been training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for 9+ years.

Where is the best place you’ve traveled to and why?

Visiting southeastern Utah in the spring of 2019 was the most memorable trip of my life. It’s just unlike anything I had ever seen before having stayed almost exclusively on the east coast.

What is your favorite sports team?

The University of Georgia Bulldogs (2021 National Champions – you heard it here first)

Thank you, Brian! We absolutely love having you on board!

The post Albion New Employee Spotlight: Brian Cunningham appeared first on Albion.

After reading through this article it started to make more sense – there is currently a material and labor shortage in the U.S.

According to the Daily Construction Journal:

“Construction companies continue to face shortages of building materials like wood and steel, while volatility in construction product costs increasingly impacts business, according to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce for Commercial Construction (Index) data for the second quarter. This quarter, 84% of contractors faced at least one material shortage. Almost half (46%) of building contractors said decreased availability of construction products was a major concern lately, up from 33% in the same final quarter.”

The US Chamber of Commerce’s Commercial Construction Index is a quarterly economic index designed to gauge prospects and resulting confidence in the commercial construction industry.

I found the following statistics to be very interesting despite the material shortages we are enduring as an industry in 2021:

“The results for the second quarter of 2021 from the three main drivers are:

• Revenue: Contractors’ revenue expectations for the next 12 months rose to 61 (four points more than in the first quarter).
• Confidence in New Businesses: Overall contractor confidence increased to 62 (up three points from Q1).
• Backlog: The ratio of the average current to the ideal backlog rose by three points to 72 (plus three points compared to Q1).”

Although there are post pandemic concerns when it comes to material and labor, the statistics from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce shows there is optimism throughout contractors in the commercial construction industry.

We here at Albion were fortunate enough to continue to operate at full capacity and have maintained a steady workflow throughout the pandemic. We are actively searching for ways to combat the material shortage on our end for all of our projects. We are optimistic about the commercial construction industry as a whole and we are looking forward to coming out stronger because of these challenges we’re facing!

The post Post-Pandemic Construction Concerns appeared first on Albion.

ACG’s Global Network comprises more than 100,000 middle market professionals from corporations, private equity, finance, and professional service firms representing Fortune 500, Fortune1000, FTSE 100, and mid-market companies in 59 chapters in North America and Europe. Founded in 1974, ACG Atlanta is one of the oldest and most active chapters, providing the area’s executives and professionals a unique forum for exchanging ideas and experiences concerning organic and acquisitive growth.

Albion submitted three years of verifiable revenue and employment growth records to qualify. The ACG selection committee then evaluated our application and then we chose for the next step, the interview process. Albion successfully portrayed our excellent growth and how awesome our company is during the interview.

Thank you to the ACG for recognizing our hard work throughout 2020. One main goal of Albion’s throughout 2020 was to ensure the growth of our company despite the pandemic and we were extremely successful! We can’t wait to see how we stack up in 2021!

The post Albion Recognized as 11th Place In our Category at the ACG Georgia Fast 40 Awards! appeared first on Albion.

The post Albion’s Making Great Progress on the Atlanta Humane Society’s New Headquarters! appeared first on Albion.

Albion is honored to be recognized as one of the ACG (Association for Corporate Growth) 40 Fastest Growing Companies in Georgia!

The Atlanta National Chapter of the ACG is a global professional organization with the mission of Driving Middle Market Growth ®. Companies on the list are for profit and headquartered in Georgia and span across a variety of industries including construction, logistics, healthcare, manufacturing, and financial services, among others.

ACG’s Global Network comprises more than 100,000 middle market professionals from corporations, private equity, finance, and professional service firms representing Fortune 500, Fortune1000, FTSE 100, and mid-market companies in 59 chapters in North America and Europe. Founded in 1974, ACG Atlanta is one of the oldest and most active chapters, providing the area’s executives and professionals a unique forum for exchanging ideas and experiences concerning organic and acquisitive growth.

“The companies being honored this year demonstrate the strength and significance of the middle market sector in Georgia,” said Melanie Brandt CEO of the Association for Corporate Growth’s South Region and ACG Atlanta President and CEO.

Albion submitted three years of verifiable revenue and employment growth records to qualify. The ACG selection committee then evaluated our application and then we chose for the next step, the interview process. Albion successfully portrayed our excellent growth and how awesome our company is during the interview. Albion is proud to say we were awarded one of the spots on the 40 company list!

“These companies represent more than 6,600 new jobs and nearly 2.4 billion dollars in revenue growth over the last three years,” said Michelle Galvani, chairperson of the Georgia Fast 40 Awards and Executive Managing Director with Wildmor Advisors. “In speaking with many of the CEO’s, the supportive business environment and accessibility of capital are contributors to growth. By far the biggest challenge is tightness of the labor market.”

Albion takes immense pride in our employees and the growth of our company- so much so that we became a 100% Employee Owned Company this year! Thank you to the ACG and we are looking forward to attending the award ceremony taking place in June!

The post Albion Secures a Spot on the ACG 40 Fastest Growing Companies in Georgia List! appeared first on Albion.

Albion is very proud of the modern, new observatory we completed for the Board of Regents on the University of North Georgia’s campus in Dahlonega, Georgia. The project team included Project Executive, D.J. Schell; Project Manager, Jason Strane; and Superintendent, Chris Beaver and the architects, Warren Epstein & Associates, Architect, Inc. Albion was met with many challenges regarding telescope installation, team coordination and time constraints. Despite these challenges, Albion was able to stay on time, on budget and on target to bring the Board of Regents and the University of North Georgia’s Observatory dreams to life. In result, Albion delivered a stunning and functional space for the future astronomical research to come on the University of North Georgia’s campus. Congratulations to all involved!

Albion was also very excited to receive first place for the Brownfield Remediation work we completed on the land that we’re building the new Atlanta Humane Society headquarters on! This remediation required ample amounts of careful planning, precise coordination, and critical thinking to remove all the contaminated material. The main goal of this remediation was to render the site suitable for human use and construction. As a result of all the detailed preparation and execution, Albion delivered a usable piece of land for the Atlanta Humane Society to build their new headquarters on- all while staying ahead of schedule and under budget. Albion worked closely with Breedlove Land Planning, Croft & Associates and The Atlanta Humane Society. Congratulations to the team who made this project a success- D. J. Schell, Project Executive; Dan Hofert, Project Manager; and Kevin Lynch, Superintendent.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to the success of each of these projects and thank you to the AGC for your continued support!

The post Albion Takes Home Two 1st Place AGC Build Georgia 2021 Awards! appeared first on Albion.