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September 26, 2022MLB Construction Reaches 75 Year Milestone
It is not often that a company can thrive for over 75 years, but MLB Construction Services has managed to do just that. MLB has been building more than trust since it was established in 1947 in Albany, NY under the name McManus, Longe, Brockwehl, Inc. Beginning operations started from the attic of the Longe household. Throughout the years, the company expanded and changed its name to MLB Industries in the mid-70’s, and later to MLB Construction Services, LLC; all while continuing their success by building a reputation of trust with clientele.
To this day, MLB has the privilege of working with some of the same great clients they have served from the beginning of business. One of which is Skidmore College, who MLB has partnered with for over almost 60 years. MLB is honored to have been awarded the Construction Management portion of the Center for Integrated Sciences building, home of Skidmore’s new science and learning center. The multi-phased project has consisted of Phases 1A, 1B, 2 and 3 for over $97 million. Phase 3 is underway and will be completed in May 2024. MLB feels very fortunate to have been able to work with Skidmore since 1964 and looks forward too many more years to come.
Another long-term client of MLB’s is The New York State Racing Association. MLB was awarded the General Contract for a major hospitality project for Saratoga Racecourse in Saratoga Springs. The 36,000-square foot, three-story, climate-controlled “At the Rail Building” or 1863 Club, offers guests a variety of hospitality options and premier modern amenities for racetrack guests to enjoy. The Club, opened in 2019, consists of a restaurant, luxury suites, private event hall for up to 100 people and balconies off the second and third floor providing sweeping views of the racetrack. With up to 300 employees at times during construction, the originally scheduled 24-month project was completed in 8 and a half. The $30 million dollar project won a 2020 Jeffrey J. Zogg Build New York Award.
Passionate about change for the current labor shortage, MLB is currently partnering with Expertise project creating local career discovery videos and displaying them in a way that’s easy for educators and students to use in high school and college classrooms. Looking ahead, the company is expanding their digital portfolio in the Metaverse creating 360 videos to document existing conditions and showcase completed projects to future clients.
MLB takes pride in the fact that historically, 90% of its business is with repeat clients. MLB continues to be a leader in the construction community completing numerous projects in various market segments. The majority of MLB’s work is in the private sector and includes healthcare, education, retail, and hospitality. The remainder is work completed with public
projects and through their Facility Services division. As MLB focuses on keeping their work local and clients happy, the company is beginning to take on a bigger and more developed team expansion. MLB plans to add more Superintendents, Project Engineers, and Preconstruction roles.
The company has a Strategic Plan for the future of MLB and how to give back to its employees along with how to service its clients better. With hopes for another 75+ years ahead, MLB is very excited to play such a large part in the future of the construction industry.
Strategies in place to make the next 75 years:
“We are in the process of our next leadership/succession transition. This should take care of MLB Construction for the next 20-30 years. Based on what this next team has learned, it will make it easy for them to do their transition after this one.” – James M. Dawsey – President
Growth Ideas
“MLB will continue to do what we do well – higher education, K-12, medical, resorts and historic renovations. We are also licensed up and down the east coast and will continue to build in these markets. We also plan to push into the housing market, both affordable and market rate. We want to continue to grow our design-build side in all the above markets.” – James M. Dawsey – President
Hiring Plans:
“MLB will continue to push for diversity, equity, and inclusion in our hiring practice. We are committed to fostering, cultivating, and preserving a culture of DEI. Over the past two years we have expanded our NY overhead and are now concentrating on our North Carolina office.” – James
Dawsey – President
Challenges MLB is currently facing:
“We are now dealing with supply chain issues, both delivery and pricing. As is everyone.
Not knowing how the economy will be affected by the lingering pandemic, labor and material shortages, interest rates, the stock market and tensions on the world stage, the construction industry is tightening up and becoming even more competitive.” – James M. Dawsey – President
