Last updated on July 16th, 2024 at 12:45 pm
Ranked among the 10 largest economies in the US — and the 20 largest in the world — and having the world’s busiest airport by passenger traffic for over two decades, the city of Atlanta has a thriving business landscape. Players in some of the area’s top fields of transportation, logistics, healthcare, news and media, IT, finance, and biomedical research fit well here but also need to keep up with the changing times. The firms on this list of the best tenant improvement contractors in Atlanta have proven that they have what it takes to help these companies with upgrading and remodeling. These firms are led by seasoned professionals who have built for the city for decades.
rand* construction
5565 Glenridge Connector, Suite 650, Atlanta, GA 30342
Building for over three decades, rand* construction is an award-winning multi-office firm specializing in creating dynamic commercial spaces across the US. Founder Linda Rabbitt, under whose leadership rand* grew from a small tenant interiors firm into the multi-market giant it is today, continues to support it as Chairman. Also bringing over three decades of commercial real estate experience is CEO Bob Milkovich, while Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Associate Professional for Building and Construction (LEED AP BD+C) Bryan Stolz heads the Atlanta office as director, with 15 years of industry experience under his belt. The firm won three Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) of Georgia Excellence in Construction Awards in 2022 alone.
rand* also worked on Argo Group’s new 21,000-square-foot space on Preston Ridge Road. The interior alteration required close coordination with the multi-tenant building to ensure disruption was minimized throughout the 15-week project. A new lobby, reception, open office space with workstations, private offices, conference rooms, break rooms, a copy room, server room, and support intermediate distribution frame (IDF) room were added to the space. The use of glass throughout the interior allows natural light to brighten the contemporary open design, complemented by custom lighting and millwork. rand* played a key role in the pre-construction constructability reviews and value engineering exercises. In doing so the firm created great relationships with vendors and subcontractors, and the client’s budget and expectations were met.
HITT Contracting Inc.
3200 Windy Hill Road SE, Suite 1100E, Atlanta, GA 30339
Once a small family business, HITT Contracting is now a 1,500-strong team building everything from government and boutique offices to highrises and campuses from coast to coast. Multi-awarded Virginia Tech Construction alumnus Kim Roy leads the firm as CEO after delivering over 6.5 million square feet of complex tenant fit-out and new construction projects since joining HITT’s Base Building sector in 1999. Joining her as co-presidents are fellow industry veterans Jeremy Bardin and Drew Mucci. Executive Vice President Ryan Bixler leads the Atlanta office, rising through firm ranks from laborer to multiple field posts before assuming supervisory roles on projects across various sectors.
One such project is the 2016 ABC Georgia Excellence in Construction Award of Merit-winning Mercedes-Benz USA Transitional Headquarters Office. HITT added a new reception desk, a video wall, elevator lobbies, and a break room to the 90,000-square-foot, five-floor space, which also received specialty finishes, raised access flooring, additional HVAC systems, sound masking, and security updates. The open-office workspace area is equipped with LED lighting and writable wall surfaces and also features carpet tiles and daylight views. Graphic branding walls, a 16-flat screen video wall, and backlit panels also enhance the common areas such as the lobby and reception desk. The project was completed in 16 weeks.
Skanska USA
245 Peachtree Center Avenue, Suite 2500, Atlanta, GA 30303
The more than century-old international building giant Skanska first came to the US in 1971 to work on one job on the New York subway line. Since then, Skanska USA has grown exponentially, with multiple offices in all regions. President and CEO Richard Kennedy oversees the massive operation, drawing on over two decades of experience in the construction industry.
Skanska USA expanded to the Southeast in 1994. The Alston & Bird office renovation is one of the firm’s projects in Atlanta. Interior demolition, structural support, and interior fit-out and finishes were all employed to accommodate 11 attorney floors, three conference floors, and two administrative floors across the 365,419-square-foot space. To avoid disrupting other building tenants, Skanska did the work in quadrants and shifts as it extracted more than 1,000 tons of debris. With all of this happening simultaneously with the build-out, the firm beat its original project schedule of 22 months and three phases, completing the build in 16 months and two phases.
Leapley Construction
180 Interstate North Parkway, Suite 140, Atlanta, GA 30339
Building in the city since 1999, Leapley Construction knows the Metro Atlanta area like the back of its hand. The firm was established by one of Atlanta Business Chronicle’s Most Admired CEOs and Atlanta Magazine’s Top 500 leaders, Meredith Leapley. Today, joining her in building efficient and sustainable interior spaces for the corporate, healthcare, and higher education sectors, is President Alan Scoggins, who brings over three decades of experience in construction to the hands-on work. Leapley has earned many awards through the years, including the 2021 Excellence Award from AGC Georgia, and has also built for high-profile clients such as Microsoft and The Coca-Cola Company.
The firm transformed two buildings in Atlanta into a new campus for a high-tech client. Leapley built the city’s culture into the campus’ 16 floors through graphic walls, colorful furniture, geometric nooks, and many other fun elements: a showpiece connecting staircase serves as the focal point of the 523,000-square-foot space. Employees and visitors get unobstructed views of midtown and downtown through the huge windows on the different floors as well as the terraces and rooftop gardens.
Batson-Cook Company
2859 Paces Ferry Road SE, Suite 200, Atlanta, GA 30339
First established in West Point in 1915 by W.C. Batson and Edmund Cook as a textile and mill village construction company, Batson-Cook has grown into one of the leading construction companies working in the southeast US. Today it is led by President and CEO R. Randy Hall, formerly the senior vice president of the Atlanta office, which first opened in 1959. Hall is a Civil Engineering graduate of Auburn University and serves as National Director of the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC). The firm has received multiple awards for its work in Georgia, including two Excellence in Construction Pyramid Awards in 2020 from the ABC Florida First Coast Chapter.
Batson-Cook worked on the interior fit-up of the Anthem Atlanta Innovation Studio in the Midtown Atlanta Technology Square. The project consisted of approximately 5,000 square feet and included a complete interior demolition and reconstruction, including gypsum board assemblies, millwork, glass wall systems, personal doors, flooring, painting, HVAC ductwork, plumbing, and electrical lighting.
JE Dunn Construction Company
2555 Cumberland Parkway SE, Atlanta, GA 30339
Alongside names like Thomas Edison and Frank Lloyd Wright, Jr., John Ernest “Ernie” Dunn has been named as one of the most important people in construction history. He founded JE Dunn in Kansas City in 1924. Almost a century later, through war and economic ups and downs, the firm continues his legacy of excellence in building, expanding its reach to projects in all 50 states. Today, after three generations of family leadership, JE Dunn is led by its first non-Dunn President and CEO, Gordon Lansford, who had worked closely with Chairman Emeritus Bill Dunn, Sr. as CFO for 15 years prior.
JE Dunn extensively remodeled the interior of an existing one-story building with a mezzanine to create the 25,000-square-foot Georgia Pacific Innovation Institute. The research and development facility houses office, sales, and marketing space designed to showcase the company’s packaging design solutions through simulated retail environments. The building also received minimal upgrades on its exterior.
Winter Construction
5616 Peachtree Road, Chamblee, GA 30341
Ranked among Engineering News-Record (ENR)’s Top 400 Contractors in the US, Winter Construction has been building in Atlanta for over six decades. Georgia Tech Civil Engineering graduate CEO Brent Reid started with the company as a project engineer. Today he continues to cultivate the culture of passion and innovation that has fueled his leadership of the firm. He currently also serves on the Advisory Board of the International Council of Shopping Center’s CenterBuild Conference, which he has also previously chaired. Joining him as president is Tom Nichols, who has also been with Winter for many years, starting as a project manager in 1996. Together, they uphold the firm’s commitment to building relationships founded on trust with every hospitality, retail, healthcare, industrial, and recreational space they create.
One such client is office supply provider CWC. Winter renovated 1,000 square feet of its building, updating its showroom and breakroom to create a more modern look.
Macallan Construction
1642 Powers Ferry Road SE, Suite 250, Marietta, GA 30067
Experts in delivering complex construction to occupied structures, Macallan Construction has been building in Atlanta since 2002. This diverse team of real estate professionals, engineers, and general contractors is led by Vice President, General Superintendent, and Safety Trained Supervisor (STS) Bill Tracy, and Managing Principals James L. Rhoden, III, Mike Minutelli, and Dean de Freitas. Macallan tailor-fits custom solutions for retail, restaurant, interior, and parks and recreation projects.
Macallan Construction renovated Roam’s innovative coworking and meeting space in Buckhead. The time-sensitive open class A office project included collaborative work areas, garage-style training rooms, and cafe, conference, and networking spaces. The firm also incorporated high-end and dynamic finishes such as walnut millwork, specialty light fixtures, garage doors, feature and frosted windows, bi-fold doors, large-scale graphics, as well as large write and wipe surfaces and the latest IT and networking systems. The client praised Macallan not just for its high-quality and efficient work but also for its fairness and honesty throughout the project.
Trident Construction Group
8215 Roswell Road, Building 100, Atlanta, GA 30350
Named on Atlanta Business Chronicle’s list of the 25 Largest Interior Commercial Contractors in the city, Trident Construction Group was established in 2012. The three core focuses of the firm are clients, safety, and quality. Founder Jay Wicklund continues to lead the group as President, bringing more than two decades of experience building over $300 million worth of construction projects with the US Navy Civil Engineer Corps and private entities worldwide.
Trident Construction Group worked on the interior up-fit of Impact Development Management’s office in Atlanta. The 6,000-square-foot project included a full interior renovation of the lobby, meeting spaces, private offices, and communal spaces. “Zoom Rooms” were also added to accommodate virtual meetings. Trident worked to complete the project in coordination with the company’s rebranding efforts and right in time for its transition from its previous office space.
Structor Group
2251 Corporate Plaza Parkway SE, Suite 200, Smyrna, GA 30080
Structor Group has been building commercial spaces in Atlanta for over 15 years, focusing on interior construction and renovation for the education, office, healthcare, corporate, retail, and restaurant industries. President Jeff Stratton brings nearly thirty years of experience in the city’s construction industry. The firm delivers the highest quality product while meeting its client’s budgets, timelines, and exacting specifications.
Structor Group renovated well-known certified public accounting and consulting firm HLB Gross Collins’ office in Atlanta. The 13,511-square-foot project took place while the company continued to occupy its 10th-floor space. Structor did work on the lobby, two conference rooms, and 31 interior offices which incorporated glass walls, Mecho shades, huddle and open workspaces, as well as a break room.
