ACI doubles its Chesterfield HQ

Commercial and industrial contractor Atlantic Constructors Inc. (ACI) is doubling its headquarters in Chesterfield County, a roughly $25 million project.

The contractor, which provides mechanical, electrical, plumbing and fire protection products and services, plans to open a second 170,000-square-foot building on 18 acres beside its existing building, which sits on 25 acres, in early November. The facility will be primarily used for warehouse and manufacturing space, with some office space.

“Since so much of our work is non-office-based, that’s how we set up our facilities. They’re a large manufacturing center, along with some office that supports it,” said ACI CEO Evan Shriver.

The company will create modular construction components in the new facility, expanding its production.

“We’re dedicating that space to building some structural steel components that we can then put the main piping systems, electrical systems, plumbing systems and fire protection systems together on, and then ship them all across the country to then build the buildings in sections like that,” Shriver said.

“But it’s mainly achieved by building it here in our factory in Richmond,” he added, “as opposed to having to find skilled tradesmen across the country and move those people around. It’s much easier to just build it in a controlled environment and then ship it out there.”

ACI currently has 1,200 employees and plans to hire up to 100 people to work in the second headquarters building, likely within the first two years of its opening, Shriver said. The company expects to have about 50 people working in the facility when it opens.

As of Aug. 30, the exterior of the new building was complete. Over September, the company is working on final landscaping and the paving of parking lots and roads. Interior drywall and paint finishes are ongoing.

ACI began planning the expansion in 2019, Shriver said, and physical construction started in early 2023.

“This is part of the strategic vision of the company … to maximize offsite construction through modular building, and that increases safety, quality and productivity and helps remove geographic barriers so we can then pursue projects all across the country,” he said.

While a construction site has factors outside of a contractor’s control, a controlled environment like a manufacturing facility reduces safety risks and has the advantage of automated machinery, Shriver added.

ACI works on large commercial buildings for health care, advanced manufacturing, data centers, higher education, chemicals manufacturers and other industries. In addition to its Chesterfield County facilities, the contractor has offices in Roanoke, Sterling and Suffolk, as well as in Wilmington, North Carolina. In 2022, the company expanded its presence in Roanoke and Hampton Roads.