Hardin Construction Company, LLC
Building a Solid Business and Reputation
from Trust the Leaders Issue 11, Spring 2005
In 1946, $1 was equivalent to $12 today. World War II had just ended, and a new prosperity and optimism were sweeping the nation. Still, housing for returning veterans was scarce, so when Congress passed the Veterans Emergency Housing Act, guaranteeing $400 million for new factory-built homes, Ira Hardin saw his opportunity. Little did he know his vision of building not just houses but “buildings of every kind and character” would be realized so completely.
From housing and industrial projects in the 1950s and 1960s, the company then collaborated with many of the Southeast’s major private developers in the 1970s and 1980s to produce high-rise office complexes, corporate headquarters and hotels. In 1993, the Hardin family entrusted the legacy of the Hardin name and family business to Company Chairman and CEO Earl Shell and his veteran management team.
Founded in Atlanta nearly 60 years ago, the company has earned the reputation of being one of the top contractors in the nation, according to Engineering News Record, and has projects that span 28 states, the Caribbean and Mexico. Office buildings, hotels, retail centers, condominiums, university and public assembly projects grace the skyline and Hardin’s portfolio.
Countless examples of negotiated contracts throughout its history attest to the trust Hardin’s clients place in the company. Hardin’s dedication and hard work has led to 90 percent repeat customers. Hardin has seen markets, economies, competition and technology come and go, but the company has persisted by building customer relationships that last, industry knowledge that’s ever deepening and the financial stability to weather these storms.
Under the leadership of Earl Shell, Hardin continues to embrace change, even as the company continues to live out its founding values of integrity, fairness and excellence in every action. In Earl’s words, “Each of us, every day, must look at every activity, procedure and process through the perspective of ‘what is great performance for my customer?”
Among customers and subcontractors, Hardin is known for integrity and consistency of service. The team that is present at the contract signing will be there at building completion and contract close-out. “Service excellence starts with earning our customer’s respect,” continues Shell. “We do this through our honesty, our integrity—our ability to keep our word and deliver an exceptional product. We will not compromise our standards for the sake of expediency, and our clients know this. Earning and upholding that trust daily is everything. It’s our culture, our reputation and our future.”
As an industry leader, Hardin takes its responsibility as a corporate citizen very seriously. Hardin is at the forefront of sustainable construction methods. A certified member of the U.S. Green Building Council, Hardin Construction utilizes the organization’s LEED certification criteria as a framework to produce “green” buildings. Even a building not seeking LEED certification or a “green” distinction benefits from Hardin’s expertise in this area through sustainable building techniques that result in energy efficiency, water use reduction, reduction of indoor air pollutants and provision of gardens and green space. Recent projects in the Atlanta area that have received such recognition include the Technology Square project, which was LEED certified at the Silver Award level and the Arthur M. Blank Family Office Building, which was LEED certified at the Gold Award level.
Recent Hardin accomplishments include: The Georgia Institute of Technology’s Technology Square and Centergy Development, SouthTrust Office Tower at Atlantic Station, The BellSouth Complex at Lindbergh City Center and the Intercontinental Hotel in Atlanta; The Mall at Millenia and the CNL Towers II in Orlando, Florida; Capital One Corporate Office Building, the Marriott Waterside Hotel and the Nielsen Media Research Corporate Office in Tampa, Florida; and the Puerto Rico Convention Center and Americas World Trade Center in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Hardin currently has nearly 400 employees located in the Atlanta, Orlando and Tampa offices as well as 32 project sites around the United States and in Puerto Rico.
