City Grill
Michael Russell
CEO
HJ Russell & Co.
“Atlanta is joking with some really big projects and initiatives right now,” says Russell, pointing to the important expansion program underway by the metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority. The Marta Atlanta program of $ 2.7 million more of the agency includes work on fast, bus and arterial traffic systems, as well as new traffic centers, local bus service and stations updates.
“After working with Marta for years, we have seen first -hand what these transformative projects can be,” he says. “This expansion is not just about adding more traffic options, it is to improve accessibility and promote new economic growth in the surrounding communities.”
Traffic, aviation and data centers are the most active sectors in the Atlanta Market, including traffic project and airport updates.
“With all the technology companies moving, data centers have become a huge opportunity,” adds Russell. “The demand for these sectors is not slowing down.”
A recent example is a $ 5 billion data center, 2.5 million feet still in the early stages of planning. It is expected that it will include nine buildings of 317 hectares east of Atlanta, according to Atlanta Journal-Constitutionion on January 17.
“The market is constant from where we are today,” says Russell, comparing the current atmosphere of Atlanta with that of recent years. “We are seeing a solid activity in infrastructure, traffic and aviation, but it is clear that customers are being more prudent about how they approach new projects.” This is not so much a slowdown in the market, it says, but customers are strategic with their investments.
HJ Russell is fortunate enough to find it in the right markets such as data centers and public infrastructure where the demand remains strong and the projects advance, adds.
“Despite some challenges, Atlanta is still a strong market for construction,” says Russell.
It also focuses on affordable housing, and the city is actively working on zoning reforms and public-private collaborations to increase the housing stock, according to him. Efficient energy construction is also gaining steam, with more customers seeking to build buildings that meet sustainability goals without breaking the budget.
Russell says that one of the biggest conversations in Atlanta among the companies in the construction sector revolves around the labor shortage of the industry, especially when for qualified trades.
A report from the general contractors associated with America published last June showed 407,000 construction work openings at the national level, a total that was only prepared, while 88% of businessmen reports difficulty finding workers to hire.
In the surveillance of Georgia companies last year, AGC found that they are expanding strategies to find workers, including participation with career creation programs, adding online strategies and collaborating with staff companies. More than half spend more money on the effort and 66% report the few workers who lead to project delays, according to AGC.
But among the main challenges of contractors in the Atlanta market is uncertainty, Russell says: “Whether it is economic conditions, the displacement of customer priorities or evolving regulations, we are constantly browsing for changes that They can affect how and when projects move forward. “
Companies need to remain flexible and be ready to adapt -as things change, according to him, he adds that customers seek partners who can navigate this uncertainty to land projects in time and budget.
“We are seeing a solid activity in infrastructure, traffic and aviation, but it is clear that customers are being more prudent about how they approach new projects.”
—Michael Russell, CEO, HJ Russell & Co.
Atlanta is also an intense focus on the diversity of suppliers, as corporate customers and government entities place higher expectations for contractors to prioritize various and inclusive collaborations, adds Russell.
“It is also a time when collaboration throughout the country is more important than ever,” he says. “We work closely with our partners and even competitors, to find smarter ways to build and innovate.”
As he looks in the coming years, Russell believes that successful companies will be those that have to adopt market changes, invest in emerging technology and stay focused on long-term value.
Related to his company, Russell says he is certainly thinking about how to keep the curve, including concentration in the development of talents.
“Demand for talent is being amplified by large -scale commercial infrastructure and developments, which continue to advance despite these challenges,” he says.
