News

Bailey-Harris Huntsville Completes New Office Space

On April 1, 2024, Bailey-Harris Construction Company celebrated the completion and opening of their new Huntsville office space with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The company has been increasing its reach in the North Alabama market, and is invested in the community there, according to Bailey-Harris President, Russell Harris.

“When we made the decision in 2015 to expand to the Huntsville market, we didn’t want to just come up here and complete a few construction projects,” said Harris. “We wanted to become ingrained into the fabric of this city; to make a lasting impact on the community. Being able to plant our roots in a place that we can call our own is a true reward for our investment in the North Alabama community.”

Renovations began in late November of 2023 and were completed this March.

According to Real Estate U.S. News, Huntsville was ranked the #1 place to live in the U.S. in 2022-2023, and is the fastest growing city in Alabama.

“As we approach our ninth year in Huntsville, we now have a place to call home,” said Tom Birchfield, Regional Manager of the Bailey-Harris Huntsville office.

With yet another successful project under their belt, the Huntsville team continues to make it clear that Bailey-Harris is dedicated to being part of the city’s growth and development.

Bailey-Harris has achieved PLATINUM level in ABC’s STEP Safety Management System

3/28/2024 – Bailey-Harris Construction recently received the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) Platinum Level STEP Award for its outstanding safety performance. The award is based on safety factor controls that incorporate data from OSHA reports and necessitate companies to have in-depth safety programs. To qualify for the Platinum Level, companies must meet specific criteria, including 20 critical components, an incidence rate equal to or below the national BLS average, and submission of an OSHA Form 300A for the past three years. The top-performing members of ABC have incident rates nearly seven times safer than the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics construction industry average.

“At Bailey Harris Construction, safety is not just a preference, it is a way of life!” said Bailey Harris Corporate Safety Director Jeff Gibby. “It is integrated into the core of our project management and employee training, driving us to “surpass expectations” in everything we do! We are proud of our strong commitment to safety and have received recognition throughout our organization for our efforts. Our field team members work tirelessly to construct projects that have a positive impact on the community. Our aim is to continually improve our operations and establish a solid foundation of safety.

According to ABC’s annual Safety Performance Report, STEP participants, regardless of company size or type of work, can reduce recordable incidents up to 85%, making the best-performing companies 688% safer than the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics industry average. Ratings range from Diamond, the highest, to Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze and Participant.

Of note is Bailey-Harris’ jump from Gold STEP level in 2022 to its current status of Platinum for 2023.

Bailey-Harris CEO Allen Harris Named 2024 Cornerstone Recipient by the Associated Builders and Contractors of Alabama

Congratulations to Bailey-Harris CEO Allen Harris for being named the 2024 Cornerstone Recipient by the Alabama chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors.

In 1994 the ABC of Alabama started recognizing one person a year that has given their life’s commitment to better construction. The Cornerstone Award is given to someone who has made a noteworthy contribution to the Alabama construction industry by positively impacting workforce development, immigration reform, and the industry as a whole.

“As a lad of 14 entering the construction world, little thought was focused on awards,” said Harris. “In striving to build an organization, it became very important to build people, so that they could build projects. It is our employees who bring honor to the profession and enjoy the sense of accomplishment on which I and many people thrive. Now with this notable honor, it is a huge motivation for doing even more for the industry to which I have been married for many decades.”

As he announced the award to Bailey-Harris employees, President Reed touted Harris’ steadfastness and impartiality as the key to his success: “I’ve had the pleasure of working with Allen for years. One thing that he has always done is the right thing. Years ago, when Allen was board chairman of the state association, so much of his leadership could have been self-centered; but never once did he get in the grays. In the industry it’s sometimes easy to do that, but he always kept it in the middle. He asked me a hundred times, ‘What’s best? What’s best for everyone and we’ll do it,’ and that’s the main thing I remember about how he led that year.”

Tim hightower, ABC’s state PAC chair and President of Southern Carpet, Hardwood and Tile, and also a good friend of Harris, was there during the award announcement.   “In all my years, I’ve never known anybody that brings a passion for what they do like he does. He always kept me on point and still does. This award is well-deserved, and I thank him for all he’s done,” said Hightower.

Allen Harris is a cornerstone of ABC’s Alabama chapter, not to mention the industry of construction itself, and joins other pillars in the community that have given of themselves to better construction.

“The shock of being a recipient has not worn off,” said Harris. “Disbelief, unworthiness, and what the award stands for just blows my mind. To be in the same fraternity with the many extraordinary past recipients is beyond any words I can pen in this moment; it is truly an incredibly high honor.”

Bailey-Harris Construction Co., Inc. Achieves World-Class Safety Standards Through Gold Level ABC STEP Program

Auburn, Alabama, April 5Bailey-Harris Construction Co., Inc. announced it has achieved Gold Level in Associated Builders and Contractors’ STEP Safety Management System. Founded more than three decades ago, STEP has evolved into a world-class safety program that dramatically improves safety performance among construction industry participants, with top-performing Diamond members achieving incident rates 645% safer than the industry average.

“It is our commitment here at Bailey-Harris Construction to initiate and maintain complete accident prevention on every construction site through strict adherence to our safety training program,” said Russell Harris, president of Bailey-Harris. “We believe that everyone from the top down is responsible for the safety and health of those persons in their charge and coworkers around them.”

STEP participants measure their safety processes and policies on key components through a detailed questionnaire with the goal of implementing or enhancing safety programs that reduce jobsite incidents. Bailey-Harris is proud to excel in the following areas regarding its comprehensive safety program:

  • Identify unsafe work practices and conditions and suggest appropriate remedies.
  • Conduct health and safety inspections of field operations to identify safety hazards and recommend corrective actions.
  • Review accident/incident/near miss reports. Types of accidents, causes and trends to identify appropriate corrective actions.
  • Obtain and analyze available data on past injuries and illnesses and identify trends and suggest appropriate corrective actions.
  • Assist in the development and implementation of effective health and safety awareness programs.
  • Develop written programs which exceed OSHA health and safety regulations compliance.

“Safety is a journey, and that journey is possible because of systems like STEP, which enables ABC member contractors like Bailey-Harris Construction to have safer and more productive jobsites,” said Greg Sizemore, ABC vice president of health, safety, environment, and workforce development. “Committing to total human health is essential to ensure the physical and mental health and safety of our workforce, and I commend Bailey-Harris Construction for consistently fulfilling those commitments to raise the bar of safety performance.”

According to ABC’s annual Safety Performance Report, STEP participants, regardless of company size or type of work, can reduce recordable incidents up to 84%, making the best performing companies more than eight times safer than the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics industry average. Ratings range from Diamond, the highest, to Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze and Participant.

To learn more about the STEP program, visit abcstep.org.

About Bailey-Harris Construction: Bailey-Harris Construction Company is a leading industrial and commercial contracting firm based in Auburn, Alabama servicing the southeastern United States since 1979.  Specializing in the design and construction of industrial, commercial, educational, municipal, financial, healthcare, religious and specialty facilities, the firm currently represents its client base in over $200 million of construction programs.  Bailey-Harris is located at 1600 Bailey Harris Drive, Auburn, AL 36830 with an additional office located in Huntsville.  Phone 334.821.0807 baileyharris.com

Bailey Harris Relies on pfSense® Software to Connect Commercial Construction Sites to Azure Cloud

   April 22, 2020
By Dennis Smith

Nothing in this world is static. Things are either progressing or they’re in decline. Commercial construction is a leading indicator of growth. Whether for industry, sports arenas, hospitals, or university educational facilities – the presence of cranes and cement trucks remain one of the most visible signs of economic growth and new opportunity.

In Alabama, hypersonics technologies, automotive supply chain, and a state government strategic push for tech jobs are major construction drivers. Where there is significant construction in Alabama, observers are likely to see the Bailey Harris Construction brand.

Formed in 1979, the company has grown steadily from its first project of $214,000 to projects today in excess of $100,000,000. The three lead factors that make or break large scale construction projects are cost control, quality, and scheduling. Bailey Harris has a proven reputation of excellence in all three – enabling it to continue placing its stamp on Alabama’s fastest-growing cities and communities.

Less visible than cranes, cement trucks, and hardhats is the IT infrastructure that enables secure network communications between construction sites and corporate applications. Griffin Cash is responsible for “all things IT” at Bailey Harris.

From the time the first spade hits dirt to when the front door keys are turned over to the new facility owner – Griffin must ensure network connections are both fast and secure. pfSense® instances – on-premises and in Microsoft Azure – perform secure networking duties including connecting each job site to Bailey Harris cloud domain controllers and providing firewall protection to the controllers. Domain controllers used to be commissioned on job premises. Now they are located in the Azure cloud.

It started when an on-premises domain controller failed. Domain controllers manage security authentication requests – granting individual user access to the company’s corporate applications. When they are down, RADIUS requests for WiFi authorization cannot authenticate – and users are down. Griffin decided to leverage the cloud to prevent future hardware failure or internet outages from crippling site communications. He decided to use Azure as a Cloud Service Provider. The next step was to figure out how to connect offices and job sites to the cloud. Since Bailey Harris already had pfSense appliances at office and job site locations, it was the logical starting point. Griffin knows how to stretch a dollar, so he compared the basic Azure A0 compute instance specifications to some of his older pfSense appliances – and concluded a 1vCPU and 0.75GB of RAM would be enough power for a small scale test. In under 30 minutes, an IPSec tunnel was up, and a new domain controller was provisioned in the cloud! Moving from test to production, Griffin deployed A1 compute instances equipped with 1vCPU and 1.75GB of RAM – providing breathing room for firewall protection of each controller.

Typically, Bailey Harris will have ten or more job sites operating simultaneously – with 5-10 employees active per site, plus guest contractors. Each site is equipped with either a Netgate SG-3100 or SG-1100 to connect the site to the pfSense cloud instances for VPN termination. Soon, the company plans to also use the Azure-based pfSense instances for remote desktop web filtering. Then, pfSense software will allow Griffin to apply the same security features and procedures (standardized for office locations) for all virtual machines hosted in the cloud.

pfSense cloud instances have the advantages of product ease of use, familiarity, cost, feature add flexibility, and freedom to purchase high-quality, fast turn-around support where needed. Best of all, relative to solution alternatives, pfSense software saves thousands of dollars a year for the company. We’re thrilled to have Bailey Harris as a customer, and honored to be a linchpin in their site-cloud-corporate IT infrastructure.

pfSense software is used by thousands of businesses, government agencies, and educational institutions in the cloud. Contact Netgate to learn how we can help provide secure networking for your cloud needs.

Construction industry positions Alabama for future success

Allen Harris –

Alabama’s construction industry is built on a foundation of customer service, integrity and work ethic. As CEO of Bailey-Harris Construction and board chairman of the Associated Builders and Contractors of Alabama (ABC), I have experienced firsthand the value a career in commercial construction has on our state’s economy and future leaders.
Commercial construction is vital to Alabama’s economic footprint and touches every aspect of our residents’ lives. A study recently conducted by the Associated Builders and Contractors of Alabama found that commercial construction stimulated nearly $13 billion of business in our state and generated 156,000 full-time jobs in 2015 alone.
According to the study, the economic impact of commercial construction has also generated a payroll of more than $6 billion a year and made a direct impact of $444 million into the state Education Trust Fund.
These numbers showcase the impressive impact the construction industry has in our state. Because of this, we must continue to build on its success and invest in efforts that enhance education initiatives and craft training skills to create a pipeline of opportunities for future industry leaders.
Two years ago, the Associated Builders and Contractors of Alabama and Alabama’s K-12 education system joined together to establish the Academy of Craft Training to recruit, educate and employ high school students through construction careers. The Academy gives students the opportunity to build relationships and learn from industry leaders and prospective employers. It has quickly become a model for public-private partnerships with the Associated Builders and Contractors, the State Department of Education and the Department of Commerce hitching wagons to better our workforce product and our state.
While just two years old, the Academy has quickly become a model for all-in workforce development. Within its first year of operation, the Academy of Craft Training placed 94 percent of participating seniors in a job after graduation.
By equipping students with the necessary skills and real-world experience, the Academy provides opportunities for students to learn craft skills, make a good living and eventually advance into a supervisory level with long-term career benefits. For example, our teachers are industry trained; our classrooms resemble construction jobsites with rules and regulations to which we adhere; Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is worn at all times and other practices that emulate actual job conditions are employed.
Upon the course completion, we are finding our student graduates have a positive infection. Infection? Yes, a positive infection that translates to a passion for the industry. It was last a fall Saturday afternoon at an Auburn University campus jobsite and I felt a tap on my shoulder. It was Jacob, a recent graduate of the Academy. “Jacob, what in the world are you doing here?” I asked. He had come to see the site crane operator, Tommy. He and Tommy had developed a working mentor relationship on a Tuscaloosa jobsite. Jacob immediately inquired, “Mr. Harris, where can I get a vest and glasses? I need to help walk the rig out.”
Late on Saturday afternoons, most young men would be hanging out with friends or relaxing. Jacob just wanted to be around the work. Passion is something our instructors talk and cultivate often at The Academy. Yes, work cures most ills.
Through stories like this, we see how Alabama’s construction industry touches lives. I encourage the Alabama legislature to continue supporting this important initiative.
By teaching students hands-on trade skills and requisite soft skills, paired with values of integrity and work ethic, we can ensure that future leaders will continue to build upon Alabama’s construction industry that supports our communities.
Allen Harris is Founder and CEO of Bailey-Harris Construction, a leading industrial and commercial contracting firm based in Auburn, Ala. He currently serves as Chairman of the Board of the Associated Builders and Contractors of Alabama.

Bailey-Harris Announces Promotion of Russell Harris to President of the Company

PRESS RELEASE
 
Contact Information:

Alana Cobb
Assistant to Allen Harris, Chief Executive Officer
Bailey-Harris Construction Company
334-821-0807
[email protected]

Bailey-Harris Announces Promotion of Russell Harris to President of the Company 

 

Auburn, AL, January 2018 – Bailey-Harris Construction has announced the promotion of Russell Harris to President of the Company.  The son of Founder and previous President, Allen Harris, Russell has lived and breathed construction his whole life.  An Auburn, Alabama native, Russell graduated from Southern Polytechnic State University in Atlanta, Georgia with a degree in Construction Management.  Russell served a 2-year tenure with The Conlan Company while in school in Atlanta, and immediately returned to Auburn to join the Bailey-Harris team upon graduation.

At Bailey-Harris, Russell went straight into the field, working on several large projects in Montgomery and Auburn.  He worked his way up to Superintendent with his last project in that role being a $20 million pharmaceutical facility.  Since coming into the office 7 years ago, Russell has been in the project management realm over multiple projects.

Possessing the gift of administration and planning, Russell has taken an active lead in corporate management, company growth, strategic planning and business development.  Following the succession plan laid out in previous years, Bailey-Harris is pleased to announce Russell’s elevation to President of the Company.

“Being prone to get into the details, means and methods, I am happy to say that Russell has the concomitant gifts that will complement not only what I do, but what the entire Bailey-Harris team does, as we take much gratitude for having the capability and supreme personnel to serve our precious clients in a construction and design-build capacity,” remarks Allen Harris, who will assume the position of Chief Executive Officer.

Russell, who resides in Auburn with his wife Melissa and two children, states he is thoroughly excited about the opportunity presented to him.  “It is a true honor to have the opportunity to build on the successful foundation laid by my father.  He has poured his heart and soul into this Company and is the key to what we have become today.  I am humbled to be considered worthy of this position and hope to continue the legacy he began almost 40 years ago.”

 

More about Bailey-Harris

Bailey-Harris Construction Company is a leading industrial and commercial contracting firm based in Auburn, Alabama and servicing the southeastern United States since 1979.  Specializing in the design and construction of industrial, commercial, educational, institutional, municipal, financial, healthcare, religious and specialty facilities, the firm currently represents its client base in over $200 million of construction programs.  Bailey-Harris is located at 1552 Bailey Harris Drive, Auburn, AL 36831.  Phone 334.821.0807 Fax 334.826.1152.  www.baileyharris.com

Gameday Support Facility in Opelika-Auburn News

This article originally appeared in the Opelika-Auburn News.

Auburn University is planning to build a new $28 million game-day support facility in Jordan-Hare Stadium.

The new 44,000-square-foot facility will be built in southwest corner of the stadium, and the project will include a 16,000-square-foot renovation of Auburn’s football locker rooms, according to documents included with Auburn University’s board of trustees meeting agenda.

The new facility will also include a recruiting space for football and Olympic sports, a new club space for fans and a new press box for the media.

If approved by Auburn’s board of trustees at its Feb. 3 meeting, the project will begin May and end in July 2018.

The facility is part of the Jordan-Hare Improvement initiative the board of trustees adopted in 2015, according a memo from Dan King, associate vice president for facilities.

“Over the last several years, the Athletics Department has been developing plans for improving Jordan-Hare Stadium to enhance the gameday experience for fans, students, and players,” King wrote. “As a result of this detailed planning effort, two of the highest-priority projects for the Stadium are the development of a larger and greatly improved recruiting facility and enhancements to the home team locker room, for gameday support.”

The $28 million cost of the project will be paid for by Auburn University Athletics Department funds.

Yarbrough Tennis Center named Facility of the Year

To view the press release about Yarbrough Tennis Center being named “Facility of the Year” Click Here.

Bailey-Harris Begins Construction of New Girls Treatment Facility

Auburn, AL, April 2014 – Bailey-Harris Construction Company has just begun construction of a new Girls Treatment Facility for the Alabama Department of Youth Services at the Mt. Meigs Campus in east Montgomery County. Designed by Poole and Company Architects, the facility will consist of a 16,000 square foot dormitory building with indoor and outdoor recreational spaces, as well as a separate 11,000 square foot administration-education building with offices, classrooms, a library and a severe weather safe space.

This project will be LEED certified by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC). Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is a green building rating system developed by the USGBC for the construction of energy efficient buildings. The project is also on a very fast-paced timeline, but the Contractor is up to the challenge according to Richard Lovelace, Senior Project Manager for Bailey-Harris. “Although the project completion date is very aggressive,” states Lovelace, “we are confident in our plan to meet it. The Owner and Architect are both working with us as a team to achieve this goal.”

Bailey-Harris is excited to have begun construction of its first project for the Montgomery County Department of Youth Services, though this is not the company’s first project in Montgomery. Bailey-Harris has completed several projects for the Montgomery County Commission, Montgomery City Schools and the Retirement System of Alabama, to name a few. Allen Harris, President and CEO of Bailey-Harris, speaks glowingly of their relationship: “We have had a presence in Montgomery for a number of years and we thoroughly enjoy working there. Our main office is in Auburn, but Montgomery is our second home. We are pleased to be a part of the continued growth in the area.”

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