Alabama Commerce Secretary Ellen McNair announced that Brasfield & Gorrie, one of the nation’s largest privately held construction firms, plans to invest $18.9 million to expand its national headquarters in Birmingham, choosing to grow in its hometown over other major markets where it operates.
Brasfield & Gorrie’s expansion project will support the creation of 85 jobs as it adds a 28,500-square-foot, three-story building on its campus at 3021 Seventh Avenue South in the city’s Lakeview District, according to the Alabama Department of Commerce.
“Birmingham has been our home since day one, and we feel strongly about investing in the community, which has supported us throughout the years,” CEO Jim Gorrie said.
“The city, county and state’s support have been key to our steady growth. As we continue to grow and hire across our footprint, it’s important that we invest in our people and the place we call home,” he added.
Protective Stadium is one of the many landmark projects that Brasfield & Gorrie has carried out in its hometown of Birmingham, Alabama (Image: Brasfield & Gorrie)
The company provides general contracting, design-build, and construction management services for a wide variety of markets, including healthcare, commercial, science and technology, institutional, federal, municipal, industrial, mission critical/data centers, infrastructure, and water/wastewater treatment.
Brasfield & Gorrie has been based in the Lakeview District since its founding in 1964, and its headquarters there now houses over 550 employees. It has offices in 12 other cities, including Atlanta, Dallas, Miami, Charlotte, Nashville and Orlando, with a total headcount topping 3,700.
“It’s great to see this powerhouse company continue to deepen its roots in the city rather than selecting a larger market.” This investment is the latest in a string of expansions that have taken place on Brasfield & Gorrie’s campus during the past several years, and it will support the growth projected by Brasfield & Gorrie’s long-range strategic plan.
Pylon Building Group will build the expansion. Pylon is a full-service general construction company based in Birmingham. Currently a wholly owned subsidiary of Brasfield & Gorrie, Pylon was founded in January 2023 with the vision of becoming a minority-owned, diverse company.
Over nearly 60 years in business, Brasfield & Gorrie has become one of Birmingham’s most successful legacy business enterprises and completed many notable projects in the area.
These include Protective Stadium, City Walk BHAM, Grandview Medical Center, and the Pizitz building and parking deck renovations. Construction is under way on projects for UAB Medical West, Southern Research and Cooper Green Mercy Health Services.
The general contractor also has a Huntsville office, and recent work throughout the state includes a greenhouse and the Discovery Life Sciences headquarters at HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology in Huntsville, the U.S. Courthouse in Huntsville, multiple Airbus projects in Mobile and ongoing work on Chart Industries manufacturing plant in Theodore.
“Brasfield & Gorrie is a landmark business that has done much to reshape Birmingham through its high-profile projects over the years,” Commerce Secretary McNair said. “It’s great to see this powerhouse company continue to deepen its roots in the city rather than selecting a larger market.”
The Birmingham project’s job creation will take place over five years, and the positions will pay an average annual salary of $74,000, according to Commerce.
The Birmingham Business Alliance, which supported Commerce on the growth project, estimates that Brasfield & Gorrie’s expansion will provide an economic impact totaling $13.5 million over 20 years.
“Headquarters have a multiplier effect on our local economy and signal a thriving business environment to key stakeholders, such as business leaders, site selectors and prospective talent,” Birmingham Business Alliance President and CEO Steve Ammons said.
“Brasfield & Gorrie’s continued growth is exciting news for the Greater Birmingham Region, and our team is proud to once again support an expansion of their home base operations,” he added.
Brasfield & Gorrie expects for construction to begin soon, with a target completion date of summer 2025.
“Brasfield & Gorrie had humble beginnings in Jefferson County but is now nationally known as a leader in the construction industry and elevates our reputation across the country,” Jefferson County Commission President Jimmie Stephens said.
“It’s important as our community grows that we continue to support the legacy companies like Brasfield & Gorrie who literally built us. The Commission is proud to support their continued growth and expansion.”